Editor’s Note: I am bringing this post forward to my front page, because of its relevance and importance. It is my hope and desire that you will make recycling, and your own personal waste management, a top priority.
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It is the third R in the term reduce, reuse, and recycle. It is the re-making of old materials into useful new products. The goal of recycling is to reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials and energy usage, which then reduces green house gas emissions. By recycling, we also lower the amount of raw waste that would otherwise end up in our landfills. Recycling is the key component in waste management as we know it today.
The convenience of recycling at your curb-side now serves half of the U.S. population. The top five most recycled items are paper, plastic, glass, aluminum and steel/tin cans.
In 2007, my area implemented the use of single stream recycling. The company provides 65 to 94 gallon carts in which all materials are commingled. This means that households no longer have to separate their materials into recycling bins. Evidence has already proven that this method has increased the quantity of household recyclables.
My area also has a recycle depot. I have not had garbage service for years, because of an altercation with the company. I set up my own system in my garage. It consists of two 32 gallon trash cans, one for plastic and one for trash,and 4 blue recylce bins for newspaper, magazines/junk mail, glass, and cans. We also have an area to break down and stack cardboard. When my children were still home we went to the dump every other Saturday. Now, my husband goes once every 4-6 weeks, with one 32 gallon bag. They know him at the dump, and the most they ever charge him is $3.00. Many times they let him go for free because they know he is a disabled vet. The average rate for disposal in my area is about $35 a month. That’s a pretty good savings for not very much work.
Written in association with waste management experts
