Does Disney Recycle?

[bradk]

there is a huge difference between sorting trash from a regular trash pile and a recycling pile and just removing the items that don't belong in each than dumping it all together regardless which i don't think is the case.

in either case, at the very minimum, the separate bins allow those who wish to be conscious of recycling efforts to do so. they also serve as a real world training scenario so that children can be taught to throw items away in appropriate bins rather than to just throw it anywhere and let someone else worry about it.

and at a very superficial level, it's part of show. regardless of what's done backstage, there'd be a far much larger backlash if there were no visible efforts than if there are and people just don't use them properly. the onus is now perceivably on the guests, not disney.

 

[WVParkfan]

there is a huge difference between sorting trash from a regular trash pile and a recycling pile and just removing the items that don't belong in each than dumping it all together regardless which i don't think is the case.

in either case, at the very minimum, the separate bins allow those who wish to be conscious of recycling efforts to do so. they also serve as a real world training scenario so that children can be taught to throw items away in appropriate bins rather than to just throw it anywhere and let someone else worry about it.

I agree 100%. Thanks for putting into words what I was thinking.

And to further your point, even if Disney does hand sort their trash, can you imagine how terrible that job would be? I wouldn't blame the CM's if they missed a couple hundred bottles per day while sorting through dirty diapers (and other nastier things).

Because of that, I will choose to always try to find a recycling bin to put my recyclables in. And hopefully, I will have made it at least a little easier on some poor CM who has to spend his/ her evening sorting through disgusting trash.

 

[sbell111]

I had also heard somewhere that the food scraps were used for feeding local pig farms. I have no legitimacy to this so it is only a ROUMOR but somewhere I do remember hearing this.

That's one of those rare rumors that actually turn out to be true.

Something that bothers me is the kids meals trays at counter service. They're cute black mickey-shaped plastic trays. Kids love them BUT so sad to think about how many end up in landfills each year. Seems like something that could easily be made recyclable...

I imagine that almost none of them end up in landfills. They get chucked in the trash can and then sorted out with all the other recyclables. Only those that are carried out of the park have the potential to end up in landfills.

 

[sherabby]

Tell DD that you can throw your bottles in ANY trash can at WDW. Disney hand sorts ALL the trash. It is true. I saw the building where they do this on the backstage tour. Disney has won awards for its recycling efforts.

My mom did that backlot tour as well and she told us that they hand sort the trash and even put in prizes and incentives in that trash to make sure that the employees are going through it. I saw recycle bins all throughout the parks as well.

 

[Lavender_Blue]

Disney's Animal Kingdom is probably the best park about having recycling bins available.

They also have other things that they do in terms of recycling. For instance, the benches in Discovery Island are all made from recycled plastic bags.

Another thing that I learned was that they use Geami paper instead of bubble wrap (which is non-renewable). The Geami paper is sturdy and is 100% recyclable and 100% compostable.

Also, you'll notice the straws at Disney's Animal Kingdom are not made out of plastic. This is to make them biodegradable and non-hazardous to the animals should they somehow wind up near them.

The interns in the park (that's me!) have the goal of (in each interaction with a guest) to pass on a conservation message in some way. And, if a guest is interested, provide them with other ways they can help the environment and be a good ecotourist. Even through something simple like reminding guests that if they buy school supplies for their kids, to try and buy them recycled paper.

I love all the fun facts about conservation that I've learned through Disney. Like bamboo bed sheets! They're more comfortable than regular sheets, they're of comparable price, and they help the environment.

But, I also am aware that most guests aren't as enthusiastic about this kinda stuff like I am. =P It's awesome when some are, though.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

That's so true - guests are expected to take them home with them!

Umph! You made me spit out my coffee!!

It is a funny thought, but I think it's actually true. I seem to remember coworkers having separating the tops of the muffins when I worked in MK. Not quite sure what they did with them.

 

[bradk]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muffin_Tops