~ Submitted by Liz Antanavica – DPW Refuse & Recycling Administrator
School is out, the sun is shining and Summer is finally here. Backyard BBQs are a summertime staple – and they often come heavy on the clean-up. Make a few simple tweaks to your normal routine to reduce all that waste and be a smarter recycler.
Pre-planning for Less Waste
Make sure a recycling bin is accessible (right next to the trash can is best) and choose readily recycling packaging. Juice boxes and pouches are not recyclable, so choose a plastic bottle instead.
Choose Infinitely Recyclable Aluminum
For adult beverages, choose aluminum cans; with a high recovery rate and strong demand in the commodities market, aluminum cans are a smart choice for your cookout. Did you know that making a new can from recycled aluminum uses 95% less energy than making the same can from raw materials. Almost everyone understands that aluminum is recyclable, too.
Avoid Single-use Items When Possible
It’s tempting to reach for the paper plates and napkins. Plastic forks and Solo cups make clean-up easier. Unfortunately, those items are not recyclable and are destined for the trash. Try swapping out just one single use item for reusable at your next get-together. Small changes add up to a big collective impact toward reducing our waste.
Consider Composting
Food waste accounts for nearly 40% of household trash volume. Consider composting food waste instead of adding another bag to your trash cart. Composting is easier than you may think. Learn about the different methods here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/home-composting-tips-a-guide-to-composting-yard-food-waste/download
No matter where you BBQ in Massachusetts, the recycling guidelines are the same.
Visit Recycle Smart MA to learn more and see which facility processes the recyclables in every Massachusetts community. www.RecycleSmartMA.org.
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