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 offer instructions on proper sorting. In Washington, D.C., says Porter, “Workers peek in recycling bins and can tag the bin with some specific info telling you not to throw in plastic bags and contaminated stuff,” lowering contamination rates by 30 percent. “The 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 efficient. 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.
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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 Affairs, in Seattle: Pizza boxes? No. Almost all takeout containers are contaminated with greasy food residue. Single-use coffee cups and lids? Many coffee shops use compostable cups that go in the compost bin or garbage. Recycle the lid.
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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? Definitely, but remove the lid first and rinse the cans.
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Milk and juice cartons? Yes. Leave the spouts, but toss the caps. Rinse the containers. Do not flatten them to avoid confusion during sorting. Styrofoam? No. Styrofoam is not accepted for residential recycling. For local waste management rules, contact municipal or county offices. November 2020
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