Don't Take a Summer Vacation from Recycling Food and Beverage Containers

Don’t Take a Summer Vacation from Recycling Food and Beverage Containers

Recycling keeps almost 2 million tons of material out of Wisconsin landfills and incinerators every year.  But during the summer months, it’s easy to forget about those good recycling habits. Here are a few reminders as you head out to enjoy all that summer offers:

·         Be prepared for the road.  If you are heading out on a road trip, bring along reusable items like water bottles and snack bags.  If you can’t avoid buying plastic bottles or cans, be sure to bring along an extra bag to collect your recycling in so it can be easily disposed of the next time you make a stop.

·         Many festivals and fairs have made an effort to make recycling easier. Be on the lookout for recycling bins and food vendors that use biodegradable utensils.  Some events even set up water stations where visitors can fill up their reusable water bottles.

·         Paper containers contaminated with any food cannot be recycled. That means items like paper towels; napkins and paper plates cannot be recycled.  Food does not mix well with paper fibers during the recycling process.  So it is important to be sure to separate your trash from recycling..

·         Taking a few extra steps to remind yourself about what can and can’t be recycled can have a big impact on our landfills.  Recycling is one of the easiest things you can do that will have an effect on your family and community for years to come.

Source: Mark Walter, Business Development Manager for Brown County Resource Recovery