Recycling Reminders to Help Reduce Our Ecological Footprint
—Gennaro Ferraro, Conservation Educator
Solid waste in Westchester County is not brought to a landfill, instead, it goes to a processing facility in Peekskill where it is burned and turned into energy for 67,000 households. Residual steam produced during the process powers privately-owned businesses all while creating fewer greenhouse gases. Knowing where our trash goes highlights the importance of reducing disposable goods and practicing proper recycling practices.
The City of Rye has resources on their website to view pick-up schedules, schedule trash pick-up, and a useful "What Goes Where?" search bar. The City has also created an infographic that you can download and use as a reminder for sorting recycling. There can still be confusion with common waste items and how to recycle or dispose of them properly. For example, some items that are often put into the trash that can be recycled are clean aluminum foil trays, pizza boxes without grease, and empty aerosol cans.
Here are a few MORE recycling and waste disposal reminders:
Please do not package your recycling in plastic bags. The plastic bags can clog up sorting machines, create hazards for workers, and back up waste processing. For this reason, bagged materials are at risk of be thrown directly into solid waste bins and not recycled.
Shipping materials, plastic film wrap from drink casings, and inflated air shipping pillows can all be deposited in plastic waste bins often found at your local grocery stores. Be sure the plastic is clean, dry, and free of any paper labeling. Please note, the plastic ring on most beverage cans cannot be recycled. They should be cut and disposed of in the trash.
Do not mix plastic and paper as this could contaminate paper with food waste. The City of Rye organizes its recycling using green bins for plastics (#1-7), metal, and recyclable glass. Be sure to clean your containers before putting them into the recycling to reduce time and energy spent at the recycling plant. If you are going to put larger boxes to the curb, be sure to tie them up so pieces are less prone to be carried away by wind or rain. Your local sanitation workers' will thank you!
Motor oil can be brought to many gas stations while other hazardous waste must be brought to Westchester County's Household Recovery Facility in Valhalla. You can safely dispose of common items here at no fee such as batteries (including automotive), paint, vehicle tires (four per household), cleaning solutions, air conditioners, and a host of other items. For more information or to make a drop-off reservation, visit their website.
Commercial composting programs allow you to greatly decrease the amount of your food waste that ends up in landfills by turning it into compost. These program accept food scraps that cannot be composted in your backyard like meat, dairy, fish, bread, and even greasy pizza boxes. The City of Rye offers a convenient drop-off option at Disborow Park through their Food Scraps Recycling Program. Click here for more information. If you do not live in Rye, check with your town to see if they have a similar program.
Reduce or eliminate as many single-use objects as you can and buy food with little to no packaging. If you can't avoid of disposing certain materials after a single-use, washing your recyclables is one of the most effective ways to reduce your footprint — the rinse requires less energy to clean the materials later. While styrofoam (egg cartons and bulk) unfortunately goes into either bulk or solid waste pickup, #6 Polystyrene foam (many food/drink containers) can be brought to the Yonkers Recycling Center for recycling.
If you are still confused about any particular item, you can go to the DPW website and perform a search to find out how to dispose of it.
Additional Resources and Related Articles
What to Do with Plastic Packaging That Can’t Go in the Bin by Emily Tipaldo Nov 15, 2018
Rye Contributes to Success of County Household Recycling Days by MrRye.com March 2, 2020
