Recycling is important. It was also a significant issue during the pandemic. Landfills, recycling centers, and other facilities were overwhelmed, sick. They couldn't keep pace with online ordering and changes to work from home, which led to residential bins, wheeled containers, and waste collection overflowing. New challenges appeared as things returned to their new normal. The people didn't want their safety and sanity to be at risk for jobs that did not always pay enough money to live on. It was challenging to find new workers, just as it was to get former employees back. Some recycling centers have stopped...

According to the EPA, over 292 million tons of waste was generated in 2018, and only 94 million tons were recycled or composted. There's still a lot to be done. Only one-third of the trash generated is recycled. Some people are unable to recycle recyclable items, even though they know that the materials used in them are recyclable. You might find that your local recycling and waste facility does not accept colored plastic or glass items smaller than 2 inches. Some people lack the resources or equipment to recycle items like aerosol cans or clothing. Many companies have come up...

Two things can happen when an item that shouldn't be in your blue bin is in there. Incorrectly recycled items may damage recycling equipment. The incorrectly recycled materials must be removed by workers and placed in trash bins before being hauled away to the landfill. This increases operating costs. The following items are accepted without restriction in the blue bins: Some recycling facilities may have a different list. You should check with your hauler about the most recent recycling policies. You should always have a current list as they may change. You can often find these on a company's site,...

Have you ever considered the amount of food waste thrown away each day in landfills? It is estimated that people waste up to 1,000 pounds of food per year. The majority of the waste is caused by overeating. Here are some interesting facts about the amount of food that ends up in landfills. Individuals and Industries Produce Billions of Tons Of Food Waste Every Year According to the EPA, businesses and consumers generated 335 billion pounds worth of food waste from production through consumption. Nearly 25% of the food waste ended up in landfills. It is a serious problem, as...

Recycling began in the 9th Century when the Japanese reused paper to create new documents. It was in the 17th Century in the U.S. that cotton and linen cloths were collected to be reused for printing newspapers and Bibles. Recycling took a while to gain traction. It wasn't until World War II, when the military required materials, that the collection began. Earth Day was first celebrated in the United States on April 22 and April 22, 1970. This was another important milestone in our efforts to protect the Earth. It was 53 years ago. What's next? Listen to the latest episodes of...

The EPA collects information on the generation of waste and its disposal every year. This includes data on the amount recycled. In 2018, Americans produced 292.4 million tonnes of waste. This is equivalent to nearly five pounds per person per day. Of this waste, 69 million tons were recycled properly, and 25,000,000 tons were composted. This is a rate of 32% for recycling and composting. While 93% of Americans believe recycling is important, 28% feel it's inconvenient, and 20% don't know a href="https://recyclenation.com/about/">how to recycle/a properly>. Although 93% of Americans think recycling is important and 28% find it inconvenient, 20%...

Vermont is the only U.S. state that celebrates Green Up Day on the first Saturday of May. However, other states are welcome to join the celebration. Residents can walk through their streets and neighborhoods to pick up the winter's trash and recyclables. There are an estimated 50 billion pieces of recyclables littering the roads and waterways of the U.S. Join us. Join in. Take Out the Garbage When You See It Bring a small bag with you when you walk your dog or go for a stroll with friends. You can pick up any trash you find. Ask the police how to...

Paper/Cardboard The municipal solid waste (trash), generated annually by municipalities each year is 23 percent made up of paper, which is more than any other material. In 2018, Americans recycled 68 percent of the paper they used. Recycled paper can be used to create new paper products. This helps save trees and other natural resources. Many community and office recycling programs accept paper, as well as paper products. Before you place your paper in the bin, check with your local recycling program. When you shop, look for products made from recycled papers. Even better, think about whether you actually need to...