Too much information, constantly, from every possible direction. I am missing a lot. And a lot of information is important, but maybe not quite that relevant to me. But there is one topic that is relevant to all of us all the time: Information about material collections, a.k.a. how to dispose properly of our unwanted stuff.
A couple of weeks ago the Town of North Hempstead sent all of us a brochure titled: “How to Properly Discard Your Stuff.”
I know some of you missed it or didn’t read it. I found the brochure instructional, but unfortunately, it didn’t answer many of the all-important “why” questions. Understanding why things have to be done a certain way and what happens if they are not will make it easier for all of us to accept and follow that rule.
So I decided to call the Town and ask all my Why questions. Robert Lange, executive director/commissioner, Solid Waste Management Authority for the Town of North Hempstead provided detailed responses that Carole Trottere, spokesperson for the Town, edited for us and are provided here as answers.
Why should we care about sorting the different materials we are disposing of into the correct “piles” for recycling? What is the cost for individuals not putting care into this process?
Answer: Recycling is ultimately a business like any other and its economics depend upon receiving clean raw materials that require limited processing and viable end markets interested in purchasing the output of recycling processing facilities.
Recycling programs were instituted to lower overall disposal costs and to help preserve the environment. Properly recycling is one small act each resident can perform daily to lessen their impact upon the environment, both locally and globally.
To the extent that collectively, individuals do not participate properly they cause costs to rise as improperly set out recyclables will be deemed non-recyclable and not be collected and thrown into the trash truck instead.
Why are the previously allowed plastics numbers 4, 5 and 6 no longer accepted for recycling? What will happen if residents continue to include those plastics in the recycling bins?
Answer: Plastic numbers 1 and 2, typically bottles and jugs, are the only two plastics that have had viable and consistent post-consumer markets for the last 30 years. If residents continue to include items that are not specifically called out in the brochure those items will ultimately wind up as trash, most likely at the processing center and thereby increasing costs.
Why can’t the residents of Port Washington recycle kitchen scraps (aka compost)?
Answer: Much of the current interest about food waste recycling fails to explain that there are almost no facilities to accept the collected food waste and process it, and there are very limited market outlets for the finished product due to the contaminants typically found in what residents set out curbside.
Why is it not ok to put newspapers in opaque plastic bags?
Answer: Collection workers cannot tell when picking up at a curbside stop what the contents of an opaque plastic shopping bag hold. To prevent contamination of the paper commodities contained in the truck they must assume the worst and throw out as trash any paper contained in an opaque plastic shopping bag. Under the new guidelines we allow residents the option of setting out their paper, metal, glass, and plastics in separate clear plastic bags as a convenience option. Dry paper is easier to market.
What happens with yard waste?
Answer: The yard waste collected is either composted or applied directly to former mining sites for soil reclamation. In both cases the yard waste collected must either be loose in a container or a paper lawn and leaf bag to be successfully recycled into compost or land applied.
Why is it not ok to put yard waste in plastic bags?
Answer: Yard waste acceptance facilities are not set up to have to open every plastic bag received. That would mean opening every bag by hand seasonally, when tens of thousands of bags may be received.
What happens if I accidentally put my yard waste out on the wrong day of the week?
Answer: If properly set out it will be collected on the next scheduled yard waste collection day. Or it could likely be collected as trash.
To conclude, I would like to include a quote from Robert Lange for all of us to remember:
“Good or successful recycling starts with the proper participation of the individuals targeted to set out recyclables for scheduled pick-ups. If the targeted audience does not set out the proper materials… it is unlikely the effort will be ultimately successful.”
And if you would like some more info on plastic, this NY Times Climate Fwd: Newsletter provides some insights: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/24/climate/nyt-climate-newsletter-recycling-plastic.html?emc=edit_clim_20190424&nl=climate-fwd&nlid=5713582820190424&te=1
