Do you recycle? Inspired by the paper goods thread

[mkcp91]

We have curbside pickup so it's easy to recycle. But don't forget an important part of recycling - you have to close the loop! By purchasing items made from recycled products you are keeping the demand up for recycling programs.

We always try to purchase products that are made out of post-consumer waste. A lot of businesses here have stopped recycling office paper and magazines because there is no market for these items - they were having to pay extra to have them recycled so now reams and reams of paper go in the trash!

~Heather

 

[katerkat]

If we don't put the recycling out at least once every two weeks, the base will go through our trash. So, yes, we recycle. Last place we lived we couldn't, because there wasn't a place to take it in the entire county.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Originally posted by goodstarr
DISshopkeeper, I guess I'd better recycle, since my hubby was the "recycling cop" in the Philly tv and billboard campaign ("If you don't recycle, I'll give you a ticket")

I never SAW this!!! Is it still running???? COOL!

 

[faithinkarma]

I am a recycling fanatic.

Same here...have been so since the late sixties, it is ingrained now.

 

[msdis]

Yes we do, big time. We take it to the next town over as they have open hours (24/7), where our town has limited hours and we both work during those hours. I get really upset with our neighborhood as we have 1/2 a bag of trash per week and all our neighbors have HEAPS of trash every week. We do not have kids and everyone else does, and most moms do not work. Glad to know we are saving the planet for them, their parents are too ignorant to do so.

 

[wilderness01]

I used to recycle everything. And I do mean everything. My old neighbors used to tease me about it. Actually when my kids were little they received a bunch of toy boxes for their kitchen set. Before I could stop them they had crushed them all into flat pieces and said they were to be put in the "cycling" bag. It was so cute I couldn't be mad.

Now I move to a new area that only allows the bins and not the bags. I hate the bins. Some of my neighbors are very considerate about how they place their recycling. Many are not. Because of the slope of our backyard, the "careless" recyclers items are often blown into our backyard "pit" area and have now become my garbage. I am not exaggerating either. I go out at least once a week and pick up a big black garbage bag full of items that have "blown" out of their bins! So some of my neighbors think they are doing a great thing when all they are really doing is creating more garbage for me! Boy how I hate windy days when I watch all their papers from everyday of the week blowing into my backyard. How would you handle this? I would love to casually say something but the one neighbor especially is a jerk and would probably do it more on purpose. Our man that also comes to pick up the recycling is so lazy that he can drop a can out of the bin or drop it before it gets in his truck and he will not bend down to pick it up at his feet! Since he has taken over the route there has never been so much garbage on the streets. I have called the village to complain but nothing has improved so far.

So I guess the answer to the OP question is NO I do not recycle anymore and because of the current situation I wish not as many of my neighbors did either.

 

[princesspumpkin]

You bet!

 

[tiggerlover]

Originally posted by minniecarousel
People don't do it because they're lazy OR there isn't a convenient set-up for recycling. (when your garbage company doesn't provide the containers, it's tough for busy people to do it on their own.)

I am neither lazy nor is it because it is not a convenient set-up. I purchased all of the bins and recyled for a while until I began noticing that when they came for the trash they put all the trash and the recylables in the same place. This didn't just happen one time either. I made a complaint about it and asked why I should recycle if they were going to do this and basically I was told it is the trash company that is taking the risk of being fined for improper disposal and that I should not worry about it. After that I stopped recylcling, why bother when all my efforts are going to waste.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

First time on the Community Board!

I recycle everything from aluminum foil to junk mail. I tear off and shred the name/address label before I put it in the paper bin provided by our local recycling center.

Those of you that recycle could do a great service for your local elementary schools by saving Campbell Soup labels and Boxtops for Education points. It just takes a few seconds to remove those items before you recycle and you'd be surprised how fast they add up. Our school just had a contest between the classes and over $1600 in Boxtops were turned in. Something you can do to help provide funding for schools that doesn't cost anything but a little of your time. Thanks!!!

 

[~*Belle 2003*~]

Yes, we recycle here. All our paper, cans and plastic go into our recycling box that gets picked up weekly. My DH takes all our bottles to the bottle bank too.

 

[browneyes]

Aluminum is the only thing I recycle.