entering the waste stream every year. We are keeping up a good recycling pace however, 30% and holding. That means we put about 100,000 tons of waste into the landfill and 30,000 tons are recycled. Not bad considering you can drive to the transfer station and throw away your garbage and no one “makes” you recycle.The reason we are doing well is that many opportunities exist to recycle in Douglas County. In addition, they are clean and orderly. However, even with these great opportunities, 33% of our landfill is paper and cardboard! This is the easiest material to gather, collect, and recycle. Considering the ease at which it can be recycled, the free drop off and pick up opportunities, and the volume of material entering the landfill, this is certainly the lowest hanging fruit on the waste reduction tree.
Did you know that all paper can be recycled in Douglas County? That’s right ALL paper. Cardboard, office paper, cereal boxes, colored paper, newspaper, magazines, and even junk mail are all recyclable. This material is collected at all 13 transfer stations around the county and can be picked up for free in volume by Sunrise Enterprises. Commercial garbage haulers even provide free cardboard dumpsters to commercial account to encourage waste reduction. The average household’s waste consists of 50% recyclable paper, the average school, 75%, and the average office, 95%! By recycling these materials through the opportunities that abound, you can save money and our precious natural resources and energy.
If you want to know more contact me today. Together we can Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle to Trash Douglas County Less!
Article seen as published in the North County News as part of a regular "Talkin' Trash" column.
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