The Reality Behind Curbside Recycling
On any given trash day, you will see the plethora of colored containers lining the street of your block. The curbside recycling program is one like no other. It is designed for people to help rid their landfills of recyclables and other materials that are not biodegradable. For many decades, there has been a “reduce reuse recycle” movement to help educate the masses on the importance of waste reduction, but unfortunately most people do not realize that having a cleaner world starts at home.
Curbside recycling works when people separate their regular garbage from compost materials and recyclables and put it all out for the sanitation department to pick up. The downside is that some areas, especially in small towns, do not have a recycling program. This means that you may have to drive to a larger area and take your recyclables to their local processing center. The best advice is to contact local recycling centers to see what they take and when is best to either drop-off or to get a pick-up.
Doing your part has never been easier. You can easily separate your garbage as you throw it away, if you utilize waste bins to collect the trash. The most important tip for dealing with garbage is to always rinse out any containers that you throw away. It will definitely keep the smell down and help out the collectors just an extra bit. But simply putting your garbage out on the street may not be good enough for you. Perhaps you need to know how your recyclable material is actually used. You may be surprised by all the ways recycled material is put to good use.
These days, in many playgrounds, you will see rubber mats beneath the playground equipment. These rubber mats are made from old plastics and other rubber goods that have been recycled. While you are at the playground, also take a look at the benches. Many benches are being made out of recycled plastics but it does not stop there. That note the kids are passing may be written on recycled paper. The parking lot may be made from recycled glass and asphalt.
The proof of curbside recycling is all around you. You may not be able to imagine that plastic water bottle as anything other than a container for water but once you see the handiwork you will forever be convinced. You can lead by example and show children everywhere that one person can make a difference in keeping this planet clean and making sure it is left that way for future generations.