What is recycling?
Recycling reduces the amount of waste in landfills, and also lessens the amount of new raw materials being collected. The less raw materials we use, the less forests and other natural habitats are being disturbed, and that’s always a plus!
How does it affect the environment?
Despite it’s benefits, recycling requires a lot of energy and ultimately results in a lesser quality material (known as downcycling). Many people mistakenly believe that recycling will virtually cancel out any negative impact, but that is unfortunately not the case. While it’s definitely better than simply sending our trash directly to the landfills, it is not the most sustainable option. Our first step should always be to reduce, followed by reuse – recycling should be a last resort.
To put it into perspective, in 2018, we produced 292.4 million tons of MSW or municipal solid waste. Of that number, we recycled 69 million tons. Out of those 69 million tons, paper and cardboard take up the majority at almost 46 million tons. Plastics take up 3 million tons.
What is Pre-Recycling?
Precycling is consciously buying items that are as eco-friendly as possible, so that you don’t have to recycle as much. It can also be buying in bulk, repairing instead of throwing out things, and buying things that will last a while. It is thinking even before Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
This mindset was prevalent many years ago, and we can bring it back! For example, we used to mend clothing when it was broken, instead of throwing it away. Those simple actions can help to reduce our waste.
How do I recycle?
You might know about the 7 RIC or Resin Identification Codes—those triangles with a number inside. These are used in some municipalities to distinguish between the different plastic types/resins. We have those attached at the bottom of the page, but Scranton, along with many other cities, has gotten away from this system because they tend to confuse a lot of people.
Along with checking your recycling schedule, here’s what you need to know for recycling in Scranton:
Blue Bin
Co-mingle
- Plastic bottles and jars
- Glass bottles and jars
- Aluminum cans
- Steel/tin cans
Red Bin
Cardboard
- Corrugated cardboard— ex. amazon boxes 🙁
- Light cardboard— ex. cereal boxes or tissue boxes
Red Bin
Paper
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Copy paper or other unwanted paper
- Unwanted mail
Resources:
- https://www.greenmatters.com/p/why-is-it-important-to-recycle
- https://www.epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics
- https://learn.eartheasy.com/articles/plastics-by-the-numbers/
- https://www.lackawannacounty.org/portal/recycling/howtorecycle.html
- https://darkbluejournal.com/why-recycling-plastic-doesnt-solve-plastic-pollution/
- https://www.recycleandrecoverplastics.org/consumers/kids-recycling/plastics-can-become/
- https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials
- https://www.co.columbia.wi.us/ColumbiaCounty/Precycling/tabid/510/Default.aspx
Get involved!
Join the cause
Let's work as a community to help our planet! Contact us if you want to get involved with our cause. Together we can do it!