Page 8 - April 2019 Wheel

THE DIRTY TRUTH ABOUT RECYCLING
By Rashawnda Atkinson

You might think it’s easy to recycle. correctly.
Just throw the paper, plastic bottle or
can in the bin and you’re done right? How Does
Not quite. In the past five years, WAL Recycle?
“Dirty Recycling” has increased due Watergate at
to poor recycling practices. Countries Landmark fol-
where our recyclables were shipped lows the current
have tightened standards for what City of Alexan-
they see as recyclable. According to dria’s guidelines
our disposal contractor, American for recycling.
Disposal Services, when items aren’t We participate
separated or cleaned properly, recy- in what’s called
cling facilities reject the goods and “Single Stream”
it’s shipped right to where we don’t recycling. This
want it to go - the landfill. allows all eligi-
ble recyclables
Our Environmental Services staff to be processed
works hard to make sure the waste together in the
and recyclable materials get to the same container,
right places whenever they pull the and it has been
bins to the dumpsters for removal. proven to in-
However, they can’t do it all alone. crease recycling
Let’s partner with the Environmental rates according
Services staff and be sure to recycle to Green Ameri- Look for this sign in our trash rooms the next time you recycle.
properly so that our community - and ca.
environment - continues to thrive for be placed in recycling bins.
years to come. Check out these guidelines below Shredded papers can be recycled
and the signs posted in the trash room in a paper bag that’s folded over.
Why Is This Important? of each floor so you’ll know what • Aluminum foil, trays and steel
The face and process of recycling has and how to recycle. cans are recyclable.
changed from the days of Recycle • Use the provided bins. Items
Rex’s public service announcement • Empty and rinse ALL containers. placed in trash bags may be treat-
chant to “recycle, reduce, reuse” in Separate plastic wrap and see- ed as trash.
the 1990s and the cries for Earth through plastic on boxes prior to
preservation a few decades prior. placing newspapers and card- But What About …
There are now recycling programs all board boxes. Remove labels and There are several things American
over the country and around the personal identifiable information. Disposal Services isn’t allowed to
world. Simply put, recycling isn’t the • Glass and plastic bottles, jars and receive for recycling, but there’s still
“hip” thing but the “right” thing to cans, empty aerosol cans, milk hope. Here’s what you can do with
do. As a result, countries who import and juice cartons, are recyclable the things that our recycling program
recycling materials reject contaminat- and can go into the recycle bins. cannot accept according to the City of
ed recycling by the millions of tons, • Small boxes (e.g. snack boxes, Alexandria’s Refuse Collection pro-
according to American Disposal Ser- cereal, shoes) should be broken gram website:
vices. Locally, recycling facilities down, laid flat, and placed in the
aren’t receiving these contaminated recycling containers. IF the box Plastic Grocery Bags
items, sending them right to the land- won’t fit into the recycling bin, Empty plastic grocery bags can be
fill because it’s considered trash. The leave them at the Loading Dock. returned to local grocery stores (e.g.
future of recycling could be in jeop- • Mixed paper (e.g. newspaper, Giant, Wegmans) that have collection
ardy if we don’t learn how to recycle magazines, books, mail) should bins for plastic bags. Also, your local

Page 8 Wheel April 2019