DID YOU KNOW?

By Kerul Kassel PHD Hamony CDD Board Member

DID YOU KNOW that Harmony was designed to promote the peaceful coexistence of human and animal residents within the community while striking a balance between the preservation, use and enjoyment of Harmony's natural areas? Harmony incorporates natural and human-built environments that blend in ways designed to enhance the relationships between humans and animals and maximize the benefits of their peaceful coexistence. While retaining natural areas, Harmony is part of a human-dominated landscape where our actions profoundly affect the welfare of wild animals.

One of the ways we protect our environment is through recycling, and in the U.S., recycling rates have been about 34% of total waste. Recycling reduces toxic pollution from waste facilities. It conserves resources, like trees, water, metals, and fossil fuels. It reduces waste, while saving energy, and mitigating carbon emissions. It has been reported to create 20-100 jobs for every one job created with landfilled waste.

Did you know there are 5 “R”s of waste management? Aside from recycle, there’s reduce and reuse, refuse (don’t buy what you don’t really need), and rot (compost). More on each of these a little later. We’re lucky that we have single stream recycling in Osceola County, where all of our recyclables go into a single container. It’s easy and quick for residents. This stuff is sorted both by hand and by machine once it reaches a MRF (Materials Recovery Facility). That’s why it’s important to exclude from your bin jagged pieces of scrap metal or broken glass that can harm workers, or plastic shopping bags that can jam up machinery.

With current commodity and oil prices low, the market for some recycled materials is challenging, yet this is quite likely a temporary scenario. Another issue is that an increasing amount of recycled truckloads go to the landfill or incinerator because they are considered contaminated. It’s up to us to ensure our recycling actually gets recycled. Coated paper receipts, shredded paper, broken glass,

diapers, plastic lids and caps, plastic shopping bags, and Styrofoam (polystyrene) containers risk contaminating an entire truckload.

How to take recycling the next level? First, reduce buying new stuff where possible and appropriate, and reuse your existing stuff (contact me for strategies: Kerul@me.com) — it saves $$ as well as reducing waste.

Second, rather than “wish-cycle” anything that looks remotely recyclable, ensure your recyclables comply with county program guidelines (http:// www.osceola.org/agencies-departments/publicworks/solid-waste/curbside-collection-services/ acceptable-recycling-items.stml).

Third, use recycling best practices: clean all containers and let them dry before putting them in the bin so they don’t contaminate other items like paper. DON’T flatten plastic containers as they can confuse sorting machines, but DO flatten cardboard boxes. Don’t include cardboard that has food residue, plastic liners or components. Become familiar with what NOT to recycle.

Fourth, don’t landfill food waste: compost it! It’s easier than you might imagine with just a little attention, and you can use the finished compost in your garden, flower beds, or among your shrubs for healthier plants. You can compost your shredded paper, too (or use it for packaging cushioning)!

Fifth, take your electronics waste to appropriate recyclers (see e-stewards.com).

Reycling is one of those green community no-brainers. Let’s set an example here in Harmony, by reducing our total waste and taking action to ensure the recyclables that leave end up actually recycled. Perhaps a contest for the cleanest recyclable bin? What are your contest ideas?