OPEN THREAD: To separate or not to separate?
I’m a separator. I am the kind of person that believes in recycling, and I do my duty and put all my recyclables in the big blue bin. I also save batteries for the once-a-year Monrovia hazardous drop-off event, and I even recycle my ink cartridges. I’ve also started composting and use biodegradable doggie bags. But hey, this post is not about me.
A couple of very bright and conscientious friends of mine do not separate their recyclables from their trash as they’ve been told that the city puts it all in once place anyway. Ok. I have a hard time believing this. Why would they bother with the blue bins then? Is this all just to make us feel good?
So, I put it to you, dear reader. Do you separate or not separate? Do you have the low-down on this strange bit of goings on? I would very much like to know. Perhaps I will have to take a trip down to the place where the trash goes and see for myself. What do you think?
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I think your friends are a bit confused. Our recyclables do go to a different facility. There the various types of recyclables are sorted and sent along the line further.
I think we are pretty good about seperating. Silly things like walking to the recycle barrel after I get the mail and dumping the junk into it immediately.
When cooking materials are sorted and recyclables brought out right away.
I do separate for the simple reason that if I do, I am much more aware of how much I consume that is non-recyclable. It forces me to see each week how little or how much I am recycling and over time has made me change my purchasing habits. Throwing it all in one bin would make that comparison impossible.
And even though all the trash *may* go to the same pile at the Athens Waste Facility, much of it does get separated out and recycled on their end (http://www.athensservices.com/materialrecovery.htm).
So it may seem futile to separate at home, but I always thought that the point of recycling was to actually learn to use less. Knowing how much I just throw away, as opposed to recycle, is the easiest way for me to find out.
Yep, separating recyclables is a good idea, and I believe the Athens people recycle on their end. Wouldn’t hurt to ask the City to verify that point as a way to remind folks of the importance of recycling.
We even separate plastic from aluminum cans, and when we build up a big pile of either we cash them in (separately) and give the $ to charity. Miranda, you make
a great point about recycling habits helping you to learn how much you consume.
Once I started separating the aluminum cans and seeing them pile up in the recycling bag, I started drinking a lot less Diet Coke. This is a good thing for the
environment, and for me.
I definitely separate!! And it is absolutely a huge help to recognize how much waste we are consuming. SOOOOOO important.
you gotta keep ‘em separated………