January 2014 Residential Communications Resources
Topic: Why Recycle More?
Blog/Article
Demographics of Garbage Reveal Opportunities to Recycle More
Dumpster diving may not be your cup of tea. However, staff at the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency found a wealth of information by digging in our trash. The results of their
recent study show us there’s more we can do to manage 3 million tons of solid waste that
will be disposed of in Minnesota this year.
The study found that food and other organic waste makes up about one-third of our
garbage, and Minnesotans throw away millions of pounds of recyclable paper, cans and
plastics every year. The top three components of our garbage are organic waste (31
percent), paper (25 percent) and plastics (18 percent).
We need to recycle more, compost more
The study pinpoints areas for improvement:




Food waste (519,400 tons) could be composted.
Paper (285,400 tons) could be recycled.
Plastic bags and film (192,600 tons) could be recycled.
Aluminum cans (12,000 tons) and plastic bottles (23,000 tons) could be recycled.
Paper, plastic bottle and aluminum cans are accepted in curbside recycling programs.
Plastic bags and film are accepted at many retail locations and in some curbside recycling
programs. Check with your local city or county recycling coordinator or
RethinkRecycling.com for more information.
Why is this important?
Our recyclable material has economic value. In 2010, Minnesota recycling programs
collected approximately 2.5 million tons of material worth $690 million.
Paper gets baled and shipped to paper mills to be reprocessed into new forms. Plastic gets
ground into flakes and then reformed into a variety of items, from toothbrushes to chairs
to soda bottles. Metal is exposed to high heat and turned into molten liquid. The liquid is
molded into bars and sent to manufacturers. Most glass can be recycled an endless
number of times. Recycled glass makes up about 70 percent of the mix for new glass
containers.
Not recycling costs money. In 2010, 1.2 million tons of recyclable material with an
estimated value of $285 million was thrown away. Instead, it cost more than $200 million
These materials were provided by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) as a part of its Rethink Recycling outreach
efforts. Please help us track the use of Rethink Recycling materials by sending an e-mail to Info@RethinkRecycling.com with a description of
how the materials were used, the date(s) published, and the estimated reach.
to dispose of this material in landfills, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency.
How can we recycle more?
Curbside recycling is available throughout the Twin Cities. Living in an apartment, condo
or townhouse? Check with your landlord as they are responsible for providing recycling
options. Also, check RethinkRecycling.com or talk with your city or county staff for
information on drop-off centers. The same folks can help you understand which materials
are accepted curbside or at a drop-off center. Learn about backyard or commercial
composting at RethinkRecycling.com, too.
About 40 percent of what we throw away can be recycled. When we increase our efforts,
we’ll enjoy more benefits, like conserving energy, protecting natural resources and
conserving landfill space. Find out more at RethinkRecycling.com.
Social Media
Tweets :
1. Check out our new blog, ‘Demographics of Garbage Reveal Opportunities to Recycle
More.” (link)
2. What happens to your recyclables once they leave your curb? Revisit a KARE 11
video to find out. http://kare11.tv/1hq2zWO
3. Did you know landlords are required to provide recycling for apartment dwellers?
Need assistance? Contact your city recycling coordinator.
4. Did you buy new LED Christmas lights on sale? Recycle your old ones through the
Recycling Association of Minnesota. http://bit.ly/1iCIPPR
5. January is get organized month. Are you decluttering? Use RethinkRecycling.com
for info on how to manage items you no longer need.
6. Should used gift cards be tossed in the trash? Not so fast! There are alternatives.
http://bit.ly/1gCExY9
7. 10 ways to spot a recycler: #10 When a recycler says they’re a diver, they don’t
mean swimming. They mean dumpster.
8. 10 ways to spot a recycler: #9 At parties, recyclers round up the empty cans and
bottles.
9. 10 ways to spot a recycler: #8 No recycling at the party? Recyclers take items
home with them to their bins.
10.10 ways to spot a recycler: #7 Their garbage can sits at the curb practically empty
while their recycling bins are overflowing.
11.10 ways to spot a recycler: #6 Recyclers believe in full circle. They buy carpet,
furniture and clothing made from recycled plastic.
12.10 ways to spot a recycler: #5 At the office water cooler, recyclers swap tales of
the oddest things they’ve recycled.
These materials were provided by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) as a part of its Rethink Recycling outreach
efforts. Please help us track the use of Rethink Recycling materials by sending an e-mail to Info@RethinkRecycling.com with a description of
how the materials were used, the date(s) published, and the estimated reach.
13.10 ways to spot a recycler: #4 Recyclers don’t do demolition. They de-construct
and donate the materials they don’t need.
14.10 ways to spot a recycler: #3 Before they buy a product, they think about if they
can recycle the packaging.
15.10 ways to spot a recycler: #2 Recyclers have boundless creativity. They can reuse
egg cartons faster than chickens can fill them.
16.10 ways to spot a recycler: #1 Recyclers act as if every purchase or waste sorting
choice they make matters to the planet. And, they’re right!
17.Fill in the blank. __ percent of what Minnesotans throw away can be recycled. The
answer is 40 percent. (link to blog)
Facebook Posts:
1. Check out our new blog, ‘Demographics of Garbage Reveal Opportunities to Recycle
More.” (link)
2. What happens to your recyclables once they leave your curb? Revisit a KARE 11
video to find out. http://kare11.tv/1hq2zWO
3. Did you know landlords are required to provide recycling for apartment dwellers?
Need assistance? Contact your city recycling coordinator.
4. Did you buy new LED Christmas lights on sale? Recycle your old ones through the
Recycling Association of Minnesota. http://bit.ly/1iCIPPR
5. January is get organized month. Are you decluttering? Use RethinkRecycling.com
for info on how to manage items you no longer need.
6. Should used gift cards be tossed in the trash? Not so fast! There are alternatives.
http://bit.ly/1gCExY9
7. 10 ways to spot a recycler: #10 When a recycler says they’re a diver, they don’t
mean swimming. They mean dumpster.
8. 10 ways to spot a recycler: #9 At parties, recyclers round up the empty cans and
bottles.
9. 10 ways to spot a recycler: #8 No recycling at the party? Recyclers take items
home with them to their bins.
10.10 ways to spot a recycler: #7 Their garbage can sits at the curb practically empty
while their recycling bins are overflowing.
11.10 ways to spot a recycler: #6 Recyclers believe in full circle. They buy carpet,
furniture and clothing made from recycled plastic.
12.10 ways to spot a recycler: #5 At the office water cooler, recyclers swap tales of
the oddest things they’ve recycled.
13.10 ways to spot a recycler: #4 Recyclers don’t do demolition. They de-construct
and donate the materials they don’t need.
14.10 ways to spot a recycler: #3 Before they buy a product, they think about if they
can recycle the packaging.
15.10 ways to spot a recycler: #2 Recyclers have boundless creativity. They can reuse
egg cartons faster than chickens can fill them.
16. 10 ways to spot a recycler: #1 Recyclers act as if every purchase or waste sorting
choice they make matters to the well-being of the planet. And, they’re right!
These materials were provided by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) as a part of its Rethink Recycling outreach
efforts. Please help us track the use of Rethink Recycling materials by sending an e-mail to Info@RethinkRecycling.com with a description of
how the materials were used, the date(s) published, and the estimated reach.
17.Fill in the blank. __ percent of what Minnesotans throw away can be recycled. The
answer is 40 percent. (link to blog)
These materials were provided by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) as a part of its Rethink Recycling outreach
efforts. Please help us track the use of Rethink Recycling materials by sending an e-mail to Info@RethinkRecycling.com with a description of
how the materials were used, the date(s) published, and the estimated reach.