Maximize the Benefits of Your Recycling Efforts
by Sarah Evert
citizen, you probably resolve to recycle as much as you can.
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However, efficient recycling re- quires more than just stuffing every- thing plastic and paper into that recy- cling bin. Dirty materials can contami- nate otherwise good recyclables. Plastic bags can jam sorting machinery. Loose shredded paper can blow out of the bin and become street litter. To maximize your contribution to keeping the environment clean and safe, here are a few tips and guidelines on recycling from Cities of Raleigh and Durham, and from Orange County.
the three major Contaminants
According to Linda Leighton, a waste reduction specialist in Raleigh, the three major contaminants in Raleigh’s curb- side recycling program are:
Plastic Bags: Neither Raleigh, Durham nor Orange County can accept these in their curbside recycling programs. However, many grocery stores do have collection bins for plastic bags. The best alternative is the reusable bag - reuse always beats recycling. Pizza Boxes: Grease and food residues make these unfit for recycling. If the lid of the box is clean, tear it off and recycle it only. Plastics: In Raleigh and Orange County, plastic bottles are the ONLY plastics collected by the areas curbside recycling programs. A bottle is defined as a container having a neck that is nar-
46 NA Triangle
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s an envi- ronmentally- conscious
rower than the base - condiment and detergent containers count. —In Raleigh, other plastics should be taken to Wake County Multi-Material Drop-Off Facilities. —In Orange County, other plastics should be taken to one of the six Or- ange County Solid Waste Convenience Centers. —Durham’s curbside program accepts a variety of other plastics; including toys, clean buckets, and lawn furniture.
general tips:
• In all three areas, corrugated card- board may be placed at the curbside. The cardboard should be reduced to pieces no larger than 3’ by 3’. • Remember to lightly rinse all food and beverage containers, such as cans, bottles, and jars, before placing them in the bins. • Discard all hard plastic bottle caps – they are not accepted by curbside recycling programs. • Glass food and beverage containers are the ONLY glass items accepted by the curbside collection programs of all three areas. • Do not recycle unopened mail. It may contain contaminants such as product samples or stickers. • Shredded paper should be bagged in a paper bag to avoid littering. • Always remember, reuse is better than recycling.
specific regulations
Here are some general guidelines for each of the three areas.
City of Raleigh
The curbside recycling program ac- cepts the following materials, no sorting necessary: • Plastic bottles • Paper — white paper ONLY
TIP: some paper that looks colored is actually white. To see if the paper is white, tear the paper and look for white along the tear.
— newspapers, magazines, and catalogues are OK
— no phonebooks or books
• Corrugated cardboard • Paperboard • Glass food and beverage containers • Steel, tin, or aluminum food and beverage cans
• Aluminum foils and trays • Gable top containers
Yard waste may be left for curbside
pickup, but it should be placed in a separate container. It should NOT be bagged in trash bags.
The two Wake County Multi-Material Drop-Off Facilities accept both curb- side recyclables and other recyclables. Examples of accepted materials are electronic equipment (any item with a cord), paperback books, aluminum, glass, plastic, cardboard, batteries, scrap metal, tires, and large appliances.
Contact:
Linda A. Leighton Waste Reduction Specialist Solid Waste Services Department 400 West Peace Street Raleigh, NC 27603 919-996-6890
www.raleighnc.gov
Orange County - Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough
The curbside recycling program accepts the following materials. Sort them into two bins as directed below: • Bin 1 - Plastics, Metal, and Glass —Plastic bottles
—Glass jars and bottles —Tin, steel, and aluminum cans —Aluminum foils and trays —Aerosol spray cans (must be
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