With today being Global Recycling Day, it has us thinking about all the recycling that gets done in our beautiful corner of New York. Knowing what you can toss in that blue bin is key to successful recycling. Here at The Bin Boss, we're passionate about empowering our communities to recycle right. So, we've put together this guide to help you become a recycling expert!
Zero-Sort Recycling
Chemung County's recycling program makes things nice and easy. Simply toss all your acceptable recyclables into your designated bin. The magic happens at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), where sophisticated machinery sorts everything out for processing.
What Can Go In Your Recycling Bin?
Here's a breakdown of the recyclables accepted in Chemung County's Zero-Sort program:
Aluminum Cans: Crushed or uncrushed, all aluminum cans are welcome!
Paper Products: Newspaper, magazines, catalogs, office paper, cardboard (flatten those boxes!), and even paperboard boxes like cereal boxes are all good to go. Shredded paper? Place it in a paper bag before tossing it in the bin.
Glass Bottles and Jars: Rinse out those food and beverage containers (lids go in the trash!). Chemung County accepts glass of all colors.
Plastic Containers: Look for the recycling symbol with numbers 1 and 2 (PET or HDPE). These typically include plastic bottles and jugs used for beverages, detergents, and other household products. Unsure about a plastic container? Check the label or leave it out.
Keeping it Clean and Contamination-Free
While sorting isn't required, there are still ways to ensure your recyclables get recycled and your bins stay clean! Here are some key tips:
Give it a quick rinse: Food and beverage residue can contaminate a whole load of recyclables. A quick rinse goes a long way.
Flatten cardboard boxes: This saves space in the recycling truck and makes sorting at the MRF easier.
When in doubt, leave it out: If you're unsure whether something can be recycled, err on the side of caution and toss it in the trash. Contaminated loads can get rejected by processing facilities.
For more information on Chemung County's recycling program, check out this resource:
Keeping your recycling bin clean is a win-win for you and the environment! A clean bin prevents unpleasant odors and stops food residue from attracting pests. But most importantly, clean recyclables are more likely to be accepted at processing facilities. Contaminated items can contaminate the entire batch, which means perfectly good recyclables end up in landfills. So, by keeping your bin clean, you're helping The Bin Boss and you do your part for the planet!