Part 2 – Recycling and Local Rules
Many of us recycle at home as a means of keeping waste out of landfills and reducing the demand on natural resources.
For this portion of the assignment, research local recycling rules for your home. The following web pages will provide you with an overview of what is and is not accepted in your recycling bin (hold the control button while clicking on the link to open the webpage):
City of Redding Recycling Guidelines
Waste Management Recycling Guide
(applies to Waste Management customers throughout Shasta County) 1.
From Part 1 of this activity, how much of this waste could have been avoided by recycling some of these materials?
The first things that could be recycled and not considered waist would be the 25 pounds worth of glass milk jugs that we collected. Those were taken to the Holiday grocery store where we were able to receive a credit on our grocery bill. The boxes from Costco are also recycled, but we make sure to cut them up so that way the amount of volume space it takes up is a lot less. Since I buy a lot of things in bulk at Costco, some other food items come prepackaged in large plastic containers, and unfortunately while I cannot take the food out of those and leave the container with Costco, I wish that they did have some type of recycling program like the Holiday market, to help reduce the use and overproduction of some of their containers. 2.
What aspect of your local recycling rules did you find surprising? Were there any items you were recycling at home that you learned you should be placing in the trash? Were there any items you place in the trash that you now know you can recycle?
I had no idea that pizza boxes or Styrofoam could not be put into the recycling bin. I also didn’t realize that scrap metal could not be included in the recycling, and I found that out one week when I put a curtain rod a long time ago in the bin and it was not picked up. I also didn’t realize that the type of glass had to be specific when recycling it. However, I don’t think I have ever put broken drinking glasses into the recycling bin, probably because I had to contain it with a plastic bag and I knew that the plastic bag would not be considered recyclable. And of course, it’s just not safe to plays broken glass freely into the bin. 3.
When you recycle, how well do you follow the recycling rules for your home?
I try my best to follow the rules of recycling mostly because I obviously don’t want to not have my trash picked up or canceled, but as I’ve matured and I continually see the overuse of single use plastics and things thrown away on the side of the road. I grew up in Inglewood so I’ve seen what too much trash that isn’t properly taken care of can do to a city. I also have had many friends who live in Japan because of the military, and I’ve always considered their waste management methods quite extreme, but they are very useful and I think it works for the benefit of everyone!
4.
Does the analysis of your personal waste stream make you reconsider or plan to change any of your habits?
My family used to only use paper plates and plastic cups because we thought it would help us eliminate the need to constantly wash so many dishes, however our waste
stream was very very high due to the amount of packed paper plates in one trashcan. I have tried to get my family on board with using non-BPA, paper bags for school and work snacks or lunches, but it is quite difficult to get used to especially when they can’t just leave it to grow mold, and eventually throw away at their convenience.
