Recycling 101 for Norristonians

Recycling is important for any large town in America. However, many citizens aren't educated on the science called "recycling." Why call something that sounds easy to do a science? First, common sense is not so common. Second, it's the hardest subject I could think of referring it to. Recycling is NOT as easy as people think!

The first thing I want to point out is that each town/city has different restrictions on recycling. Norristown is one of those cases. For example, you can place cardboard in the recycling bin but Mascaro will not recycle it anymore. Wait, what? Yes, Mascaro to reduce costs has opted out of recycling cardboard. But they will collect it, then kindly move it to the trash pile. In Norristown, the biggest thing you need to know is that we are a "single-streamed recycling" town. What this means is that Mascaro requires no sorting at all. You can combine all recyclable items together and place them in a single recycling container for collection. The only thing they ask is to rinse all items that may have contained food to avoid contamination. Plus, it keeps the rodents from visiting your trash at night.

To make it easy, I have copied the explanation from Norristown.org on what can be placed in recycling:

• Metals: Aluminum cans (beer and soda), aluminum foil and foil plates, metal lids and metal cans
• Glass: glass bottles and jars (food and drink only)
• Plastic containers: bottles and containers labeled #1 through #7 (soda, water, milk, juice, liquor, shampoo, detergent, condiments, salad dressing, yogurt, margarine)
• Mixed paper and cardboard: newspaper, magazines, catalogues, junk mail, envelopes, file folders, corrugated boxes, cereal boxes, gift boxes, paper bags, and phone books

Also, according to the site, you can use any container for recycling. As long as you have a recycling sticker visible on the can, they will collect it. Each homeowner gets one free recycling bin per household, an additional one can be purchased for $15. Also, stickers are available if you wish to convert an old can into a recycling bin. One thing you may have noticed is that plastic bags are also not collected. Local big box stores such as Wal Mart, Shop Rite, Target, and more have vendors that will recycle the bags for you. Mascaro and many other companies across America no longer take plastic bags.

Now let's talk about some facts of recycling in America. The first obvious fact is that it reduces the amount of waste you place on the trash each week. Compared with the rest of the world, America is leading in last place for recycling. Countries like Amsterdam have capitalized on recycling, now facing a crisis of "running out of waste." Keep America Beautiful has also encouraged recycling. Their new campaign highlights that a park bench can now be built by recycling water bottles. Would you rather see park benches or empty bottles in our parks? No brainer!

For more facts on recycling, visit http://americarecyclesday.org/ and don't forget, America Recycles Day is November 15th.

What are your best practices on recycling?