RECOLOGY
Recycling more, sending less to landfill at Parkmerced
Few would argue that less garbage and more recyclables is a good thing, not only for our landfills but for the environment in general. But recycling can be confusing, even for the most environmentally conscientious people.
To help residents master their recycling skills, Parkmerced partnered with Recology on their Better at the Bin program.
To learn more about recycling, including what materials are recyclable, residents can visit an information booth at The Market every Saturday. There, you can find some handy tips so you can be “better at the bin,” knowing what goes where. The basics are pretty straightforward. Bottles always go in the recycle bin, as do cans. Make sure they are empty before you put them in. Shake out food containers before recycling.
Recycling cardboard and paper helps manufacturers make new boxes. Every ton of paper recycled saves 17 trees, and as we all know, there are a lot of boxes being shipped these days. Before you recycle cardboard, make sure the boxes are flat. If it’s a pizza box, tear off the lid and put it in recycling. The food side can go in compost. Please place all food scraps and yard trimmings (sticks and leaves) in the compost bin.
When doing your errands, keep a couple canvas or reusable bags with you to carry any items. Paying 25¢ a bag can become pretty painful, let alone wasteful. Try to stay away from plastic containers and flimsy plastics. They tend to clog up the recycling equipment and can harm wild and sea life.
If you need additional assistance, Parkmerced’s field service agents have been trained to help residents recycle more waste in common areas, which means less garbage sent to landfills every year. Parkmerced will also be promoting ways to be better at sorting your discards in the bi-weekly Parkmerced newsletter.
If you are looking to start composting, here are five things to keep in mind:
1. Residents and businesses throughout California and in 150 cities across the country are following San Francisco’s lead and implementing curbside food scrap collection programs for composting.
2. The best way for residents at Parkmerced to take part in composting is with a compost kitchen pail. (You can ask your apartment manager about the free compost pails provided by Recology. A variety of pails are now sold at retail and hardware stores and online)
3. Start with easy stuff that doesn’t smell – this includes items like stale bread, coffee grounds and fruit peels!
4. When composting, include a used paper towel or napkin at the bottom of your kitchen compost pail because it absorbs moisture and reduces odor.
5. Make sure not to mix meat, dairy or other compostable items with the recycling as it contaminates the recycling process.
Here are three convenient resources that show what materials can be recycled and composted in San Francisco:
Recology also provides orange buckets for recycling household batteries. Look for the orange bucket in your apartment building lobby or common area. If your building does not have one, you can ask your building manager to request one from Recology.