REALITIES OF RECYCLING

HOW WE TREAT OUR TRASH MATTERS BY CAROLINE CABRAL

IF YOU’RE LIKE MOST OF US IN THE ENVIRON - MENTALLY CONSCIOUS BAY AREA, YOU LOOK AT A PLASTIC MILK JUG AND TOSS IT IN THE BLUE BIN, AND HOPE IT GETS RECYCLED. THE QUESTION IS DOES IT DO ANY GOOD? OR DO THESE NOBLE EFFORTS TO RECYCLE PLASTIC ACTUALLY RESULT IN A LESS GREEN LIFE?

Many of us are wildly uninformed about what and how to recycle. According to one estimate, 25 percent of the objects Americans put into recycling bins belong in landfill garbage bins. This ranges from recyclables that are too dirty to process—mayonnaise jars still coated—to items that shouldn’t be there in the first place, like plastic bags.

According to Republic Services, our local waste collection company, last year Walnut Creek residents recycled and composted 21,145 tons of material in the blue and green carts and added 10,043 tons to the landfillable black carts. What’s unclear is the percentage of the “recyclable” garbage that ended up recycled. Although this data is not available, staff at Contra Costa County’s Department of Conservation & Development tell us, “the amount of ‘contamination’ in curbside recycling bins certainly varies over time and by area, but in general, Walnut Creek and Central Contra Costa are pretty clean.” ➤

The recycling system hit a big setback in 2018 when China, which had been buying about half of US plastic, banned the import of 24 materials, including mixed plastics, largely because the goods sent were too contaminated. This policy, combined with the rejection of American materials by other countries like Vietnam and Malaysia, could displace an estimated 111 million metric tons of the world’s plastic waste by 2030, according to National Waste and Recycling Association.

Through a robust direct mail campaign, Kimberly Lam, Municipal Manager at Republic Services says her organization is focused on educating consumers in the region on how to properly recycle empty containers. “Residents do a good job of making sure their recycling is empty, clean, dry, and in the right place.” Consumer adherence to new recycling rules has made it easier for companies like Republic Services to find new markets and vendors for their recycling goods. “High quality recycling

makes it easier to find places to take it,” Lam says. Some common mistakes recyclers make include putting Styrofoam and paper towels into the blue bin at home. “Paper towel fibers are too short to be recycled. They should go in the green composting bin.”

Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority (CCSWA) explains how washing containers keep them out of the landfill: “Recyclables need to be wiped clean prior to being placed in the bin because residue left inside makes the containers unsuitable for recycling, and they have to be disposed of instead. Residents can increase recycling efficiency by properly preparing materials (rinsing) and regularly checking guidelines so they know what should and should not go into curbside recycling bins.”

Reduce-Reuse “Recycling is beneficial when it can be processed into new products,” says Lam. “But ultimately reducing ➤

KNOW WHAT AND HOW TO RECYCLE THE PUBLIC’S ROLE IS TO KNOW WHAT’S RECYCLABLE. HERE’S A SHORT LIST:

➤ Paper/cardboard: anything you can rip/tear; flatten nonsoiled portions.

➤ Aluminum and steel cans: empty and rinse.

➤ Glass bottles and jars: empty and rinse.

➤ Food and beverage cartons: empty, rinse, and replace cap. (Lids and caps gum up the sorting machinery.)

➤ Plastic bottles and containers: empty, rinse, and replace cap.

➤ Don’t put plastic grocery bags in your recycle bin. They tangle up machinery and cause lost time. Recycle them through your supermarket or don’t use them. For more information, go to recyclesmart.org.

consumption is the most important step.” Tina Neuhausel, the President and CEO of Sustainable Contra Costa agrees. “Before you even get to recycling, one of our biggest problems is our waste,” she says. “We need to learn how to reduce and reuse.” Neuhausel recommends weaning off single use plastics and getting off junk mail. “We can all take steps to reduce waste.”

Think locally, act globally There are no national laws that mandate recycling. In fact, California is one of only seven states that has a recycling law in place, yet average Americans are generating four and a half pounds of trash per day. Neuhausel says the biggest problem she sees is complacency. “People appear to not really care.” Luckily, there are ways to be accountable. Sustainable Contra Costa encourages residents to “Step up to the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge” by measuring your carbon footprint and committing to learn more about sustainable living. “It starts with each one of us,” says Neuhausel. “It’s the choices we make in our everyday lives.”

LEGISLATION

Waste reduction and recycling policy in California is at a crossroad in the State Legislature. Two companion bills, SB 54 and AB 1080, reduce plastic pollution and reform product packaging by requiring manufacturers to use recyclable materials. The bills also direct CalRecycle to adopt regulations that reduce single-use plastic products by 75% in 2030.