Recycling

What is Recycling?

Recycling is a series of activities that includes collecting recyclable materials that would otherwise be considered waste, sorting and processing recyclables into raw materials such as fibers, and manufacturing raw materials into new products (EPA website).

Why Recycle?

In 2003, U.S. residents, businesses, and institutions produced more than 236 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), which is approximately 4.5 pounds of waste per person per day.

One of the ways to manage MSW is by recycling. Recycling diverts items such as papers, glass, plastic, and metals from the waste stream. Another way is by composting.

Simply, materials that are not reused, recycled, or composted—in other words, things you throw away in the dumpster—will go to the landfill and combustion facilities.

EPA has ranked the most environmentally sound strategies for MSW. Source reduction (reuse) is the most preferred method, followed by recycling and composting, and lastly disposal in combustion facilities and landfills.

According to EPA, the United States currently recovers, recycles and composts 30 percent of waste, burns 14 percent at combustion facilities, and disposes of 56 percent in landfills.

Next time when you throw away garbage, think about the time needed for the materials to ‘biodegrade’ (Biodegradation is the decomposition of organic material by microorganisms). Some materials are biodegradable, some don’t. Look at the fact below:

Product	Time to biodegrade
Cotton rags	1-5 months
Paper	2-5 months
Rope	3-14 months
Orange peels	6 months
Wool socks	1 to 5 years
Cigarette filters	1 to 12 years
Plastic coated paper milk cartons	5 years
Leather shoes	25 to 40 years
Nylon fabric	30 to 40 years
Tin cans	50 to 100 years
Aluminum cans	80 to 100 years
Plastic bags	450 years
Plastic 6-pack holder rings	450 years
Glass bottles	1 million years
Plastic bottles	Forever

Landfill Areas

Here are some facts on the condition of our landfill.

Number of Landfills: follow link for text description

Years of Remaining Landfill Capacity: follow link for text description

What things do we recycle? Go to: Recycling Items.

How about Yard Waste (yard trimmings, grass clippings, leaves and Christmas trees)? Learn about home composting.

How about Household hazardous waste (alkaline batteries, bug spray, anti-freeze, nail polish, and many more!)?

Learn about household hazardous waste: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Learn more about recycling: Amazing Recycling Facts

Want to get money from recycling??

The Meijer recycling program not only provides schools with an opportunity to earn money, but also encourages and educates children about the importance of recycling.
Schools who are enrolled in the recycling program receive up to $1.00 per pound for collecting used Meijer grocery bags. Schools must register to participate by calling Enviro-Bag® at:
Toll Free: 1-800-866-3954, Monday thru Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

How does Van Buren Township do on recycling?

According to Wayne County Department of Environment Annual Municipality Solid Waste Stream Report for year 2004:

Materials generated is 2.30 lbs/person/day material generated
- Total material collected/treated reflects curbside pick up only. Does not include bulk waste, commercial or industrial waste streams
Total materials treated is 9,874 tons, a 1.49% increase from the previous year.
Total materials recycled increase for 1.31%, materials composted increase for 5.27%, while materials sent to landfill also increase for 0.65%, compared to the previous year

Condo and apartment dwellers: participate to recycle!!

If you don’t have curbside collection, you may take your recyclables to the Woodland Meadows Waste Management Recycling Center located on Van Born Rd. between Haggerty and Hannan roads. Hours of operation are 8 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to noon on Saturdays. Questions? Call (743) 326-0993.

Contact the Homeowner’s Association to request for curbside collection