Out the Recycling System, says there’s a lot of confusion on what to put in the bin. She points to Michigan, which aims for 30 percent recycling by 2025 and created videos featuring “Recycling Raccoons” that off er instructions on proper sorting. In Washington, D.C., says Porter, “Workers peek in recycling bins and can tag the bin with some specifi c info telling you not to throw in plastic bags and con- taminated stuff ,” lowering contamination rates by 30 percent. “T e public demands curbside recycling,” Barnes says. “It
is highly ranked as something the public wants,” but people also need to be more aware to make the system more effi cient. Even with the current challenges, environmentalists see
recycling as a key strategy for a planet sinking under plastic waste. “As we navigate this new reality together, consumers whose circumstances allow for it should begin to reshape how they think about plastic pollution,” advises the World Economic Forum website
weForum.org. “It’s a real and present crisis we can stop in its tracks right now —if we make choices that lead to a cleaner and more sustainable future.”
Yvette C. Hammett is an environmental writer based in Valrico, Florida. Connect at
YvetteHammettHull49@gmail.com.
Rules for Recycling
Here is a list of broadly accepted common rules for recyclables from Currents: Navigating Society & Sea, a blog of the University of Washington School of Marine and Environmental Aff airs, in Seattle:
Pizza boxes?No. Almost all takeout containers are contami- nated with greasy food residue.
Single-use coff ee cups and lids? Many coff ee shops use com- postable cups that go in the compost bin or garbage. Recycle the lid.
Plastic grocery bags? No, not in residential recycling, but they can be returned to the store in most cases.
Soup cans and other steel cans? Defi - nitely, but remove the lid fi rst and rinse the cans.
Milk and juice cartons? Yes. Leave the spouts, but toss the caps. Rinse the con- tainers. Do not fl atten them to avoid con- fusion during sorting.
Styrofoam? No. Styro- foam is not accepted for residential recycling.
For local waste manage- ment rules, contact mu- nicipal or county offi ces.
October 2020 11
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