By Rosie Saccardo and Jonathan Oakes
What Can I Recycle?
Recycling is very critical in maintaining the environment and keeping the Earth clean. Humans produce a lot of waste and trash, but most of it can be recycled or composted. A lot of people are not aware of what can and can not be recycled. Each town’s transfer station has different requirements for their recycling programs. We have included information from the Springfield, Cavendish, and Ludlow transfer stations. Some require the residents to sort their materials into separate categories, while other transfer stations do not call for any separation at all. For some people, this can be confusing to remember what you can recycle and how. This also goes for recycling at Green Mountain Union High School. It is important to know what you can recycle to make sure that the recycling stream is not contaminated.
Recycling at GMUHS:
GMUHS’ recycling goes into Casella Zero-Sort Recycling - this system has specific requirements for what can be recycled in order for the sorting process to be successful. Zero-Sort also means that we do not have to sort the recyclables into separate categories which can be very convenient.
Recycling at Home:
Recycling at Springfield (most Chester residents)
Recycling at Cavendish:
At the Cavendish transfer station, all of the recyclables all go in the blue recycling compactor and there is no separation required. (Other materials such as batteries, refrigerators, electronics, or tires are accepted but they have separate sections aside from the blue recycling compactor).
Recycling at Ludlow:
At the Ludlow transfer station, it is required that you separate all of your recyclable waste products into the categories that they have. The following information describes how the transfer station requires residents to sort the recyclables...
WHAT YOU CAN RECYCLE (at Ludlow) and the separate containers:
All together: Aluminum and steel cans, aluminum foil and pie plates, plastics #1 and #2, boxboard (ex. cereal and pasta boxes), all paper products
Glass bottles and jars go into another container.
Corrugated boxes go into another container.
Deposit (5 cent) bottles and cans go into another container.
construction and demolition materials (wood, roofing, tiles, old furniture, etc.) belong in a separate load.
Scrap materials (pipes, lawnmowers, tin roofing, car parts, etc.) will also need to be kept separate.
Miscellaneous:
Styrofoam peanuts and bubble wrap (accepted in clear plastic bags)
Computers, monitors, peripherals, printers, and TVs
Corks
old cell phones and inkjet cartridges
If you separate your materials at home, you will have an easier time at the Recycling Center.
The garbage compactor should only be used for household garbage - no glass, metal, or wood!
TEXTILE SHED
All of these items must be bagged:
Clean and Dry Clothing (in any condition)
Shoes (bagged separately from clothing)
Clean and Dry Linens (in any condition)
Belts, Purses, Hats, Mittens, Gloves, Coats, Socks
Recycling Tips/ Keeping the Recycling Stream Pure:
1. Empty and clean
Recyclables must be empty and clean, so… Take that last sip! Enjoy that last bite! Also, don’t forget to rinse it!
2. Keep items loose
Bagged recyclables cannot be sorted, so if you collect your recyclables in a bag, be sure to dump them out.
3. Shape matters
Small and narrow items under 2”x2” slip through the cracks in the sorting equipment and cannot be recovered. They should go in the trash. Caps are okay if you twist them back onto the container.
4. When in doubt, throw it out!
Americans toss far too many non-recyclable items in their recycling bins. These sorting mistakes add up and hurt recycling programs. We all need to understand what’s acceptable in our local recycling program and remember: When in doubt, throw it out.
5. Don't forget to reduce and reuse!
Recycling is great but waste reduction and reuse can be even better. Don’t forget to reduce and reuse whenever you can.
Conclusion
Please remember to recycle at school and your own home, while keeping in mind what you can and cannot recycle. It is important to keep the recycling streams clean. Recycling will help you reduce the waste that you put out and will keep the earth healthier. And remember, even if it seems small, we will make a difference if we work together!
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