Are you one of those people who throws everything in your trash can, or does it push you over the edge when you see a .5 liter water bottle, much less a soda can, in the trash?
According to usafacts.org, and statista.com, the amount of solid waste generated by Americans increased from 243.5 million tons in 2000 to 300 million tons in 2023. Americans recycle between 30 and 35 percent of this — around 100 million tons.
One day a week, when you leave your house in the morning, your street is lined with those blue recycling bins. If your bin is one of them, you may feel good that you are helping keep 30 percent of solid waste out of landfills, and rescuing the environment. But are you really? To truly help the environment, you have to do it right.
What you can recycle in Plant City:
• Aluminum, tin, or steel cans
• Aluminum or tin foil
• Pie tins
• Plastics bottles and containers
• Milk and juice cartons
• Cardboard
• Newspaper and office paper
• Junk mail
• Magazines
Note that Plant City does not recycle glass. Broken glass can contaminate the recycling of paper and cardboard, and it can damage machines at recycling facilities. So, locally, glass is now used at landfills to keep down dust.
The biggest mistake made by recyclers is when you put the wrong things in your blue bin that spoil the whole load of recycling. Below are the virtues and the sins of recycling. Doing it right yields the recycling results you want. Doing it wrong contaminates recyclable materials, and makes your effort useless.
Do:
Rinse out and dry plastic containers.
Empty, rinse, and dry plastic cans.
Cardboard should be flattened, dry, and clean.
Make sure your bin weighs less than 40 pounds. The pick up is not mechanical—it is manual labor, and hard work all day.
Don’t:
Don’t put wet or dirty things in your blue bin. If enough items like this are in a truckload, the whole load will be spoiled—meaning none of the items in the truck can be recycled.
Don’t recycle plastic lids.
Don’t add greasy pizza boxes
or other kinds of greasy cardboard.
Don’t add plastic bags.
Don’t add food.
Don’t add cell phones,
computers, or electronics.
Don’t add oil containers of any kind.
Don’t add dirty food containers.
Don’t add clothes hangers.
Don’t add batteries.
Don’t add light bulbs.
Don’t add sheets of glass.
Don’t add electronics.
Don’t add clothing.
Don’t add diapers.
Don’t add cords.
Don’t add wires.
Don’t add hoses.
Don’t add Styrofoam.
Don’t add dishes.
Don’t add pans.
Don’t add ceramics.
Don’t add mirrors.
Don’t add artificial plants.
Don’t add children’s toys.
Don’t add patio furniture.
Don’t add anything made out of rubber.
Don’t add hazardous waste containers.
Recycling in Plant City is a voluntary program. If you call 813-659-4222, you can sign up to recycle. Give them your name, address, and phone number. An 18-gallon blue bin will be delivered to your house. If you prefer, you can also go by the Solid Waste Department facilities at 1802 Spooner Drive to pick one up. Businesses may be eligible to get a six cubic-yard cardboard recycling dumpster at no extra cost.
For more information about the specifics of recycling, call the City of Plant City Solid Waste Department at 813-757-9208.