The Buzz from Buz Kenney
A few members of the Environmental Commission recently took a tour of the Morris County recycling center in Mine Hill to see how the single-stream recycling program is going. The main lessons were:
● Recycle ONLY #1, 2, and 5 plastics; anything else “contaminates” the entire load;
● Do not put plastic bags in curbside recycling and do not put recycling material into plastic bags before deposit in curbside recycling -- plastic bags clog up the sorting equipment;
● Make sure all recycling is dry, including paper and cardboard; and
● Never recycle hazardous materials that may pose a risk to worker safety, such as batteries or pressurized fuel canisters (hairspray, propane tanks, etc.).
Acceptable recyclable materials are primarily from the kitchen and laundry room. Metal scraps from household projects and glass from candles, drinking glasses, and window panes are examples of things that should not be recycled. If you're not sure if something should be recycled, use the rule "when in doubt, throw it out." At the end of the tour, we were told Morris Township runs an effective single-stream recycling program, and the residents are doing a good job. Please visit the Recycling Coach for more helpful hints.
