Click here for part one of this article.
Anne Arundel County is at the forefront of recycling programs in ease of use, acceptable items, and progressive thinking. County Executive John R. Leopold ramped up the recycling program by implementing the "50/50 Challenge." County residents that do recycle have much more opportunity to put an expanded list of acceptable items into their recycle bins. The goal is to recycle equally as much as the volume of regular trash. Hence the 50% goal. In FY2009, county residents recycled 63,936 tons of material, while discarding 117,435 tons of trash into the Millersville landfill - which, estimates show, will be full by 2030. To save space, and extend the life of the landfill, it is imperative that residents make recycling a household habit.
Ease of use has been a key to making the program a success. The county listened when residents told them what they wanted to see in a recycling program: More acceptable items. Recycling "as is" and not having to rinse items. Plastic grocery bags. Easy pick-up of recycle bins. The county is working hard to get recycling a priority in residents' households. There is progress - when the 50/50 Challenge started, approximately 31% of recyclables were being reclaimed. That has improved to 35%.
Progressive thinking is taking recycling "to the streets." Recycling dumpsters and containers have been popping up in many county parks. Look for them and use them next time you are there. There are also county school programs that engage students in recycling activities.
What makes the "ease of use" successful? The commitment to enhancing the material sorting technology. Most sorting processes are extremely labor intensive to separate various materials. Not here... The Waste Management facility in Elkridge is state-of-the-art and makes for quick work of every truckload of recyclables.
Whether you live in Anne Arundel County, or elsewhere, the moral of the story is Recycle. More. Often.
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