Millennium Recycling News
January 2017

How Are We Doing?
Quality Alert
Plastic Bags
Plastic bags continue to be one of the biggest issues at our facility. If loose, they are very difficult to sort and can get stuck in our equipment. Please make sure they are bagged and tightly closed.
Thanks for your help!
PRESCRIPTION DROP-OFF BOX
 Did you know a  drop box is available for the public to safely dispose of unwanted or unused medication in Sioux Falls? No questions are asked and no forms are needed.  There is a container for pills or powders, a sharps container and a container for chemo medication.  

Law Enforcement Center Lobby
320 West 4th Street
Sioux Falls, SD

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Recycling Survey: Residents Still Confused
An online survey released by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) found that U.S. residents have gained a better understanding of how the recycling industry works but are still unsure about many basic concepts. 

Nearly half of US adults do not have information on recycling available to them. Less than 30% believed that the industry is "highly technical and sophisticated", and many did not think recycling generated enough material to meet the country's manufacturing needs. The most commonly accepted false statement was that material from residential recycling bins is mixed with refuse after collection. 
These results follow other studies that show growing awareness about the benefits of recycling but confusion about the process behind it. One  found a majority believed they could recycle "most types of items" where they lived, but less than one-third of their communities recycled as a "norm".  Another survey  found that people believe recycling has become easier but also found common distrust of recycling systems.  Other surveys found that  industry terminology  or a lack of transparency about the recycling process could be barriers to better understanding. 

The takeaway? Communication is key. Consistent education with the provided guides, talking to customers about contamination, and positive reinforcement when they do it right, will help us keep our single stream clean.
The Mounting Medical Waste Problem
When we think of medical waste, we often think of hospitals, but in reality, there are many smaller generators that have a waste stream equally as dangerous.

In-home healthcare patients (wh ich has become  the fastest growing sector in the health care industry) , nursing homes, clinics, physicians' offices, dental practices, laboratories, funeral homes, medical/nursing schools, veterinarians, hospices and emergency medical services all generate infectious waste.

At Millennium, we take this seriously. It is essential that we get ahead of the problem to prevent  accidental needle sticks and exposure from contaminated plastics or other materials to our employees. 

Please help us educate these small generators on how to dispose of sharps and other soiled items. We offer free onsite waste audits for organizations of any size, and encourage the waste hauler to come along with us. If you or your employees have any suggestions on how to prevent this waste from entering the recycling stream, we are open to all input! 

If we work together, we can save lives.
Resources Just For You:

Our simple waste audit can help reduce contamination and increase your recycling rate. Contact us to schedule an on-location waste audit with your commercial customers. 

Get quick access to hauler educational tools, guidelines and resources all in one place. 
 
MILLENNIUM'S QUARTERLY NEWS
"On the Line" is our quarterly newsletter meant to keep you i nformed on current events at our facility, in our community and in the recycling industry. If you want to hear about a topic or have a question you want us to answer, please let us know! We look forward to keeping you updated, thanks for your continued partnership as a Millennium Recycling customer.