Happy Earth Day!

I just wanted to take a moment to remind everyone of the importance of recycling and send around a reminder list of what is acceptable. There’s been a lot of publicity about the recycling markets and it is true, it is a tough time for recycling, but it is important to remember that recycling is still a better waste management option than landfilling or incineration. Recycling conserves resources, creates jobs, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, saves energy and reduces pollution. Recycling is mandatory in Connecticut and our materials from Middletown are getting recycled. It is costing us more than in the past, which is one reason why it is important to make sure you are recycling only the correct materials and reducing your waste as much as possible. It does make a difference.

Prices to recycle have gone up because in July 2017 China decided it did not want to take waste materials from the US anymore. They developed a National Sword campaign which limited what scrap material was allowed into China and reduced the contamination level to 0.5%. Considering 25% of what is put in people’s recycling carts is contamination, this is nearly an impossible level to achieve.

The good news is companies are now investing in the US and building and expanding domestic markets for recyclables. There are markets in the US and Canada, but now everyone is trying to use them and they are flooded with material. This experience has shown us that we do need to do a better job of recycling ONLY what is acceptable and we really need to REDUCE the amount of trash and recycling we generate. Municipalities are being required by the State to reduce their total waste generate by 10%, so we are looking to take important steps to make this happen. We need everyone’s help.

The City has increased recycling containers in public spaces, initiated curbside recycling and increased drop off containers for textiles, we participate in all the Extended Producer Responsibility programs (mattresses, electronics, paint and thermostats), and will be increasing our composting efforts for residents. We are hoping with the new reusable bag ordinance more consumers will bring their own bag and not take as many bags. We hope this will get people thinking about other single use items too, such as straws and coffee cups. We continue to collect the miscellaneous items to recycle on the second floor – batteries, plastic bags and wraps, plastic gift cards, light bulbs, cds & dvds, cell phones, toner cartridges and I take empty toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes here in Public Works. Every little bit makes a difference.

Please consider making a commitment to reduce your waste. Here's some other ideas to help you get started:

• Refuse a straw.
• Bring your own bag everywhere, not just the grocery store
• Bring your own coffee mug everywhere.
• Compost. At home and at work.
• If you can’t have a backyard compost, think about sharing garbage services with a family member or neighbor and hiring a curbside service for composting.
• Use durable items instead of disposable ones.
• Use items with little or no packaging.
• Look at the garbage you generate throughout the week. What do you throw away that you could eliminate?
• Recycle less. Really. Reuse and reduce more than you recycle.

Earth Day truly is every day.

Thanks so much for every one’s efforts! Any questions or ideas, please let me know! Hope you get outside and enjoy!

Kim O’Rourke
Middletown Recycling Coordinator, 245 Dekoven Drive Middletown CT 06457 860-638-4855