Help Make Recycling Work

We all want to do our part to protect the environment and make the world a better place to live. The Iowa Waste Reduction and Recycling Act of 1989 requires cities and counties to significantly reduce the amount of garbage they landfill.

Residential curbside collection of recyclables began in Kellogg in 1994 and was soon followed in Newton. It is estimated 85 percent of residential households are participating in this recycling program.

Participation in the curbside recycling program has exceeded all expectations.

Residents are to be congratulated for their participation in recycling. This program has greatly assisted the Newton Sanitary Landfill in complying with the state goal of reducing by 50 percent the amount of material buried at the landfill.

We can all help make recycling work by paying closer attention to our lifestyles to make sure we are living as environmentally friendly as possible. Here are a few suggestions:

Reduce: Pay attention to the amount of packaging; consider whether or not the packaging is recyclable.

Reuse: Why throw something away when you can use it again and again. The kitchen is a treasure trove of reusable items such as aluminum foil, glass jars and plastic containers.

Recycle: Don’t be part of the problem! Be part of the solution! If you are not already recycling, think about starting. Recycling is easy.