There is no doubt that recycling is important; however, recycling RIGHT is most important!In this article, we will discuss a few important facts about recycling, along with the need to reduce and reuse! 1. Items put in the recycling bin must be clean and free of any residue.Dirty recyclable materials means contaminated recycling, and contaminated recycling means that it will end up in the landfill. Next time you put anything in your recycling bin, check to ensure it has been cleaned and dried as thoroughly as possible. So, that means no food or drink residue, nothing sticky or slimy, and especially avoid any toxic materials. Cleaning your recyclables will not only give your materials a better chance at being recycled, but all other materials in the load as well. Say, for instance, a jar of peanut butter is placed in a curbside recycling bin. Once that bin is dumped into the recycling collection truck, it is compressed, causing that jar to burst open. What will happen after that jar bursts open? All surrounding materials are ruined! Even small amounts of residue can quickly ruin other good recycling. So, recycle right by cleaning your materials! 2. Plastic bags should never be placed in the regular recycling.Plastic bags are considered recycling contamination. Why, you may ask? Well, let's dive into it. Most would assume that placing recyclable materials in a plastic bag would keep it from getting contaminated by other materials or from blowing away. While it may keep items from blowing away under certain circumstances, it does not stop the contamination. Remember, recycling trucks compress each load of recycling when it is placed into the truck. So, the plastic bag will be broken open, leaving shredded remains. So, let's talk about plastic bags entering the recycling plant. If a bag of recyclables happens to make it to the plant, it will most likely be discarded as trash. Recycling plants are very fast paced and they typically do not have the resources to get every bag of material opened and ensure it is able to be sorted. Remember, TONS of materials go through these plants each and every day! Another problem with plastic bags at the plants? They can clog up the machines! If a bag happens to make it to the sorting machines, it can get caught up in the mechanisms and stop production. Lengthy stalls in this production can cause severe delays in the recycling process. Are plastic bags recyclable at all? They sure are! Just not in a typical recycling bin. Have you ever seen those bins for plastic bags at the grocery store? Those bins, or other specialty recycling programs for bags, are the ONLY places that plastic bags should be recycled. Recycle right by keeping your recycling bin bag free! 3. Each year, enough plastic bottles are thrown away to wrap around the Earth four times!That's right! FOUR times! Take a moment to think about that amount. We know, mind-blowing! So, what can be done? Ever heard the phrase, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle"? A bit of a cliché; however, SO very important for the future of our Earth! Each time you use a durable and long-lasting reusable water bottle, you are saving a plastic bottle from entering the recycling bin or trash. How awesome is it that such a small and simple thing to reduce and reuse can be so impactful? 4. There is no limit to the amount of times that aluminum can be recycled.That's right! Unlike plastics, that are only able to be recycled two to three times, aluminum can be recycled infinitely. Bonus fact: When a soda can is properly recycled, it is typically back on the shelf as a new product within three months. We strongly encourage you to recycle your cans whenever possible. Not only will it reduce your waste stream, but it will forever be made into something new! 5. Each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 4,000 kilowatts of energy, and 7,000 gallons of water.Woah! Just 2,000 pounds of recycled paper can do ALL of that?! Think about how much can be done with 100,000 pounds of recycled paper! Here are some paper recycling tips: - Avoid getting paper wet, this significantly reduces the quality and market value. - Shredded paper can be recycled, but it must be placed in a clear bag (the ONLY type of bag acceptable for recycling bins.) Avoid shredding paper whenever possible - only shred sensitive information and recycle the rest! - Glittery or foil paper cannot be recycled. Colored paper can! 6. On average, each person in the U.S. creates 4.5 pounds of trash each day.This equates to roughly 1,609 pounds per year. Yikes! Reducing your waste stream is essential to the health of the Earth. Here are some waste reduction tips: - Reuse, reuse, reuse! Purchasing durable materials that can be used again and again Want to Learn More?
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Meet the AuthorLeslie Williams is the Education, Outreach, and Marketing Coordinator for the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District. She aims to inspire others to care for all parts of the environment, even in the smallest of ways. ArchivesCategories |