WASTE MANAGEMENT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INVITES COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TAKE GREEN ACTION BY ADDING “RECYCLING MORE” TO NEW YEAR’S GOALS

With New Year’s resolutions underway, the Waste Management team of Southern California invites its customers to make a commitment to the environment by adding “recycling more” to their goals this year. 

Last year, Waste Management of Southern California handled nearly 1 million tons of recyclables. This year, the quest to protect natural resources is already underway. The Southern California team kicks off another year of giving a second life to discarded items with sights set on contributing to the company’s overall goal to manage 20 million tons of recyclable materials by 2020.

“We are committed to extracting more value out of the materials that we manage,” said Eloisa Orozco, Area Communications Manager for Waste Management of Southern California. “The more materials residents recycle, the greater the impact on saving earth’s precious resources.”

There are many benefits derived from recycling. Many recyclables have the potential to be recontextualized into renewed products including clothing, shoes, picture frames and art. In addition to giving material a second life, recycling can save energy. For example, a single aluminum can, if recycled, saves enough energy to run a light bulb for up to 20 hours, a computer for three hours or a TV for two hours.

Recycling is essential to the survival of the planet. Waste Management of Southern California offers the following strategies to enhance everyday recycling in 2013:

Setting your goals

• Begin by reviewing the list of acceptable recyclable items from Waste Management in your city.
• Identify at least one item from the list that you have not recycled in the past. Some examples include, pie tins, shampoo bottles, and bath tissue rolls.  

Recycling at home

• Hold a family huddle and review the new items to recycle.
• If you don’t already have a recycling container, consider repurposing an old container to capture items such as aluminum cans, plastic bottles, paper, cardboard and even junk mail to make sure they find their way to the recycling container on collection day.
• Ensure that only specified recyclables are placed inside your recycling container. By doing so, you will keep your cart free of any contamination and will send your items for proper recycling.
• Dispose of electronic waste responsibly. Recycling bulbs, batteries and electronics responsibly is easier than ever. You can now recycle items from the comfort of home with Recycle By Mail.

• Manage organic waste. One of the best ways you can help reduce the amount of organic material that ends up in the trash is by composting. Starting a compost pile in your yard can help to conserve natural resources. 

Recycling at the office

• If you don’t already have a recycling program at work, talk to your supervisor about introducing one this year and volunteer to champion recycling at the office. By increasing recycling at the office, you may help uncover cost savings for your employer. Learn more here about Waste Management’s business recycling services.

• Place a desk-side recycling container at every desk. You can use an empty copier paper carton or re-purpose old boxes.
• Collect paper, bottles, cans, and cardboard/paperboard from all your co-workers.
• Recycle old printer cartridges using mail-back containers from the supplier.
• Send shredded work paper documents to the recycling bin.

“It only takes a few extra steps to become greener this year,” added Orozco.  “By deciding to be greener this year, community members will contribute to making a positive impact for future generations to come.”