Recycling Facts and Sustainable Options

Hello neighbors:

We hope you and your families are safe and remain safe throughout the COVID 19 pandemic. Thank you for continuing to abide by CDC regulations.

Lives have changed dramatically due to COVID 19 as many have lost their jobs and/or are balancing childcare, education and working from home.

As such, many may be working on checking off that never-ending “to do” list for home and yard projects in addition to what is already on their plate. More people are ordering via curbside pick-up and delivery, which results in the use of more plastic, more paper bags, more pizza boxes, etc. Some residents might be purging items located in attics, basements and clothes closets. So, what does one do with all of the excess trash and materials? Knowing how to recycle correctly and donate non-perishable items is key!

Refer to the following links and three basic rules below for additional recycling information:

Waste Management of Montgomery County

https://www.wm.com/us/en

Montgomery County Planning Commission Montgomery County Recycling

https://www.montcopa.org/637/Recycling-Information

Some recycling actions make a bigger impact than others. Please remember these three basic rules the next time you recycle (https://www.wm.com/us/en/recycle-right)

Recycle clean bottles, cans, paper and cardboard.

Keep food and liquid out of your recycling. No loose plastic bags and no bagged recyclables.

Recycling of Foam

Recyclable foam includes, for example, Styrofoam packaging used for electronics. Smaller Styrofoam peanuts and food containers are not accepted for recycling. Please refer to the following Facebook link for more information pertaining to a local facility collecting foam.

https://www.facebook.com/Northeastfoamrecycling/

Recycling of Gently-used Items:

https://www.gogreendrop.com

https://www.habitat.org/restores

https://www.nike.com/help/a/recycle-shoes

http://atrscorp.com/

https://libertythriftstores.com/locations/montgomeryville/

Composting Food Scraps and Yard Waste:

Food scraps and yard waste make up a significant amount of what we throw away on a regular basis. Composting these items reduces what goes into landfills where they take up space, break down and release methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas.

Composted food and yard waste can be used in flower beds and vegetable gardens to provide nutrients to growing plants. Implementing composting practices is a great way to reduce what goes into the landfill while providing you with a wonderful resource to utilize in your yard!

https://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/compost/how-to-compost/

https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home

https://www.pennlive.com/gardening/2016/10 /how_to_compost_your_yard_waste.html

Please view the Lower Gwynedd Township Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) website for additional information:

https://www.lowergwynedd.org/township-government/environmental-advisory- council.aspx

Lower Gwynedd Township Environmental Advisory Council

Rea Monaghan, Chair