My county has NO type of recycling...what can be done?

Question

I moved from an area with recycling of metal, glass, paper and plastic. My new area has NO recycling, what can be done?

Answer 1

Go radical and get people to support your idea and maybe the government in your area will start to recycle. start a petition , send out fliers, make a plan!!!!

Anything to help this earth right!!!!?!?!?!

Answer 2

ask everyone to sign a petition and take it to the mayor once you have like 50 people who have signed it!

Answer 3

generally you probably live in a smaller rural area without lots of economic resources

you can collect your recyclables per normal and take them to another area that has recycling; it will probably be located where you go shopping or the nearest mall/large walmart, etc

either you find a public place to take things, or visit a large apartment complex with a public recycling dumpster to put your stuff in.

you may also want to get more selective and informed on what is worthwhile to recycle. for example, in most cases on plastics that are #1 or #2 get recycled, the rest is often dumped regardless if you put it in the recycle bin. you'll have to keep your iteme clean if you store them longer for the trip to the recycler, which leads to better recycled content as you pollute the batch less.

along with recycling, it can be more important to dispose/recycle hazardous materials more than anything, like car tires, tv monitors, batteries, Rx meds. you'll at least want to put effort into that.

you probably have a local scrapyard that will buy the aluminum cans, and possibly your glass or metal. you can also use them or stop in an ask if they know of locals who recylce large items like appliances - the people who cruise town looking to pick up junk, you can often call them for big items.

you'll have to start a compost pile for your yard waste that you use to put in the big green bins for pickup. it is not that difficult to do, and you can do things like use a mulching law mower deck for grass and even leaves. composting is generally a good idea anyway to reduce your food waste. you can also compost much of your newspaper.

the reason you don't have recycling pickup is cost. recycled items don't generate much revenue once the whole process costs is taken into account, especially if you are in a non-redemption state or in an area where people would not be likely to use the service, or dump polluted contents in the bins. also locals in the area may already be accustomed to recycling their valuable items like cans or appliances themselves at the local scrapyard so the trash co wouldn't get the good stuff. it often takes a motivated perosn to lead the effort, stop into a city council meeting towards the end when you can ask questions and propose something.

Answer 4

you cant do anything. unless the government of the country wants to.

Answer 5

Use less disposable items, and reuse the ones that you must purchase. The recycling will become a moot point.

Answer 6

Talk to your county council....I can't believe there are such places in this day and age that can't/won't provide some sort of a recycling center.  Altho some counties provide recycling at the county landfill, have you checked there?

Answer 7

Start a program that does allow people to recycle in your community.

Answer 8

Make sure when you buy products they are reusable and made from sustainable materials.

If you buy a container, don't buy plastic, buy stainless steel or glass. You can then use these containers again and again. Both glass and stainless steel will last forever if looked after and can be recycled. We have had our stainless steel water bottles for years and also our pyrex dishes. We even take our dishes to restaurants and the butcher when we remember!

Again for shopping, don't buy or use plastic. Buy cotton bags or make your own from recycled material. Use these bags to carry your shopping in and also to put produce in that you buy. Put some in your everyday bag, hang them near the front door, and keep some in your car. That way there is no excuse to accept, buy or use plastic.

Get a worm farm or compost working for all your food, paper and cardboard scraps and when composted use in your vegie patch.

And Mum's out there put your little ones in reusable cotton cloth nappies and use cloth boosters and wipes. This will save our landfill and waterways from a tremendous amount of toxic and unwanted waste. If you must use a disposable then use one like Safeties that are 100% biodegradeable and can be broken down by your worms!

If you do these few small things, you will be amazed at how little rubbish you end up putting in your bin at the end of each week and therefore don't need to be recyled by your local Council.   We were!

Here are just a few tips to help us help save our planet

Answer 9

Without knowing the particulars of your area or situation, the following usually holds true. If you have garbage or refuse pickup, the county or city has to have a place to dump it. Be it a landfill or garbage transfer station, there is usually a recycling area there,  

We have no formal government recycling program in our area. I take everything I can to either the private aluminum or plastic for profit centers, or to the recylcling bins at the garbage dump or transfer station. It's a little more work, but I bought my own containers and only have to make one or two trips a month.

There are lots of areas without recycling programs. Unless managed properly, most government run green programs actually lose money.