What to do when your community does not participate in recycling programs?

Question

Our local disposal company does not recycle, or so I am told. They except the items as recycled, but it is actually mixed with everything else and sent to the landfill. I make so much effort to recycle and it has no impact. My husband found this out upon one of his trips to the local disposal place. An employee told him they mix it all together and just send it away. This concerns me. What should I do?

Answer 1

People have the right to recycle or to choose not too.  There is really nothing you can do and no one could be forced to do anything really.  Unless you go up to everyone of your neighbors and hold a gun to there head and tell them to recycle, theres probably nothing you can do.  And even that idea is far fetched, because they would call the police for pointing a gun in their face.

Answer 2

We take most of our recyclable materials to a "teal dumpster." The dumpsters are for mixed recyclables, so no separating is necessary. These are placed around the Denver metro area, the closest one to our home is a few blocks away at the area middle school. We make sure we don't make a special trip, but simply drop off our recycling only when it's on the way to somewhere else we are going (ie. the grocery store). Check to see if there is a similar program in your area.

My teenage son takes our aluminum to the "can bank" for some extra pocket change.

Answer 3

Look into clubs that might be collecting items.Scouts often collect cans, youth groups take items in good repair for yard sales/ fundraisers. In many rural areas the cost is to great to separate the plastic,glass and cans.Don't forget more services equals higher taxes.A great place is to start with is at home by reusing plastic bottles and glass jars around the house.Who knows you might find some cool thing to do with them and become the Martha Stewart of your neighborhood.

Answer 4

I have a smiliar problem in my community and I live in a large city!

The solution my friends and I employ is to hire a local recycling company. It costs about $18 a month for someone to come by and pick up our recycling every week. A BIT steep but worth it in our eyes as they do not limit the amount of recycling material you leave for them. Check out what is available in your area and hopefully the prices are more competitive.

Another option is to lobby your city hall/council to introduce an effective recycling program. I bet there are many other people who feel the same way you do and might not even know what the deal is. Perhaps even the media will be interested.

Answer 5

Call your local town ship or city and ask if there is a way to recycle in your area.Maybe they do not sort in your area but sell recycle things to another town ship where they process.

Answer 6

Contact your city council.

Answer 7

well if the community doesn't want to participate, then take the time yourself or a few friends and do it your selves.

Answer 8

I'M TOLD THEIR IS'NT ANY RECYCLING COMPANIES IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA AND LAS VEGAS HAS TRIPLED IN THE LAST 2 YEARS AND IS RUNNING OUT OF FRESH WATER. THEY EXPECT LAKE MEADE TO GO DRY IN 2010 OR EARLIER. I'LL BET THOSE MILLIONAIRES ARE KIND OF UNHAPPY WITH ALL THAT REAL ESTATE THEY BUILT ON.

Answer 9

My college has been fighting with the board in our city to do something about recycling.  It all came down to the economy and that recycling costs them to much money.  We have numerous protests and events on the issue.

NJ has passed a law that increased the tax on disposing of waste by over 100% to help even out the cost of recycling, but  it was barely publicized and it is costing businesses a greater amount of money to dispose of waste which is increasing prices even more.  It is one vicious cycle.

Answer 10

not listen to heresay, even if from your bloke, or even site staff. I doubt it is all landfilled as that is more expensive so they are making less money, and few ppl wanna do that. Check with the issuing authority for their waste license and see if they have obligations to recycle etc.