Reduce, Recycle, Reuse:
The
Recyclopedia Shows You How
If you’re interested in using fewer toxic substances, preserving natural resources, and reducing waste in general, help is here. In early 2008, all postal customers in western Hennepin County received an updated version of the Recyclopedia, a waste reduction guide on "how to reduce, reuse, recycle, and dispose of all kinds of stuff." The first Recyclopedia was published in 1995.
Why Reducing, Recycling, and Reusing is Important
Many people believe the primary reason for recycling is related to the capacity of our landfills. Each person in the United States makes about 4.5 pounds of trash a day, or about 1,642 pounds a year, and most of this trash goes into landfills. We can cut these numbers dramatically by practicing the "Three Rs" (reduce, recycle, and reuse). For example, right now we recycle about 40% of our waste—about 2 million tons—that could have ended up in landfills.
However, reducing trash flow to landfills may not be the greatest benefit of recycling. Economic analyst John F Ruston and scientist Richard A Denison believe the greatest benefit is how recycling conserves energy and natural resources and prevents pollution in manufacturing (Wall Street Journal, January 1995). Since recovered materials have already been refined and processed once, remanufacturing is usually cleaner and much less energy-intensive. Their research showed that energy conservation resulted in a savings of about $187 in electricity, petroleum, natural gas, and coal for each ton recycled. According to the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance (OEA), recycling programs collected nearly 2.5 million tons of recyclable materials (paper, metals, glass, plastic, food, problem materials, etc.) in 2005. This translates into a savings of nearly $107 million that year, not to mention the natural resources that were preserved.
How the Recyclopedia Helps
The Recyclopedia is a 32-page alphabetical guide with numerous listings, sorted by material, on how and where to reduce waste, reuse resources, recycle more, and dispose of materials safely. The listings range from businesses that take used building materials (doors, windows, and lumber) to those that take used eyeglasses. Of great concern is the disposal of hazardous wastes, such as paint strippers, brake fluid, photochemicals, oven cleaners, and adhesives. In 2003, more than 109,000 tons of hazardous materials were recycled in Minnesota. When you have something to throw out, hazardous or not, the Recyclopedia can guide you.
The Bottom Line
According to the community survey in Fall/Winter 2001, 90% of Golden Valley residents are satisfied with the City’s recycling service. However, the other two Rs—reducing and reusing—are equally important. Many items listed under hazardous waste in the Recyclopedia are cleaners that could readily be substituted with alternatives such as baking soda, borax, and lemon juice. As far as reusing, old toys, furniture, and even mattresses can find new homes and be used again, as can computers, scrap metal, and clothing.
The online version of the Recyclopedia can be viewed at www.hennepinatoz.org. If you have any questions or comments on the Recyclopedia or the OEA campaign, call Golden Valley Recycling at 763-593-8030.
