WINSLOW — Like many communities across the nation, Winslow’s recycling program has faced the challenge of reducing contamination within its single-stream recycling efforts. Changes in the global recycling industry are requiring cleaner sorted recycled materials, so it’s become more important than ever to put the right items into recycling carts and keep the wrong items out.
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In November, city leaders decided to ramp-up efforts to clean up the recycling stream coming out of Winslow. Residents had demonstrated a clear commitment to recycling, and yet contamination levels remained high. To address the issue, the city decided to simplify the list of accepted recycled materials, to make it easier for everyone to participate in recycling.
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Today in Winslow, the list of what can be put into recycle bins is short and sweet: Recycle all your empty food and beverage cans, clean paper and flattened cardboard. Put these items loosely (not bagged) into your curbside cart.
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“We encourage everyone to keep recycling because it all adds up,” said Melodi Deaton, Waste Management of Arizona district manager. “An aluminum beverage can that is dropped in a recycled bin is often back on the shelf as a new can within 60 days. And since aluminum and steel are endless recyclable, keeping every drink can and food can we use out of a landfill is simply good use of important resources.”
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This holiday, be sure everyone in your home, including holiday visitors, knows the recycling rules specific to your community, so everybody contributes to positive results.
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Holiday shopping and shipping offer more opportunities to recycle right.
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Remove any plastic wrap, wires or foam packing materials before recycling empty cardboard boxes.
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Return plastic bags to a grocery store for recycling or reuse them on your next trip. Keep plastic bags and bagged materials out of your curbside cart.
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Fancy greeting cards with glitter, bows, jewels and other embellishments cannot be recycled; they should be disposed in the trash. However, holiday catalogs, magazines and plain mail can go in your curbside cart.
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After the holidays, remember to keep up the good recycling habits. Continue to put clean cans, paper and cardboard in your curbside cart. Old decorations, broken lights and stale fruitcake belong in the trash, not the recycling.
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Interested in recycling but feeling overwhelmed? Choose one household item to start recycling – something you dispose of frequently. For example, commit to recycle every aluminum can as a first step.
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“Every one of us makes a difference when we recycle an aluminum can, cardboard box, or yesterday’s newspaper,” said Deaton. “If we all become mindful to recycle a little bit more in the coming year, it will make a measurable difference for the entire community.”
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For more information about recycling, visit: https://recycleoftenrecycleright.com/.
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Waste Management appreciates the opportunity to be a part of your community. Together, we can accomplish great things.
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