Recycling even more important during pandemic

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sunday is America Recycles Day, a nationwide initiative spearheaded by Keep America Beautiful. While some see it as just one of several “holidays” invented by special interest groups, experts in the field said recycling is never more important than during the current COVID-19 crisis.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, recycled materials can help produce things especially needed right now, such as paper towels, sanitizing wipes, toilet paper and packaging for a wide range of products including boxes for shipping.

Many businesses that would normally generate large amounts of recyclables have limited operations now. Therefore, household recycling is vital to the continued supply of raw materials for U.S. manufacturing sectors.

Recycling tips and reminders during and after COVID-19

• Keep plastic bags, masks, wipes and latex gloves out of the recycling bin.
• If someone in your home has COVID-19, treat your recyclables as trash.
• Don’t put your recyclables in plastic bags.
• Clean and shake dry recyclables to ensure products get recycled.
• Break down cardboard boxes and put them in the recycling bin whenever possible.
• Put recycling and trash in the appropriate bins, not next to them. Leaving materials next to bins increases risks to sanitation workers and can attract pests.
• Do not put lithium, lithium-ion or spent lead-acid batteries (e.g., car batteries) in your trash or recycling bins. These batteries can contain hazardous materials and can contaminate groundwater or cause fires at recycling facilities. (Common AA, AAA, D alkaline batteries are OK to put in the trash — no recycling.) Batteries from electronics and cars can be recycled at specified retail and other locations. You can also check with your county to see if it has a household hazardous waste collection program.

A survey commissioned by Republic Services, which is contracted for curbside pickup and processing of recyclables in Jacksonville, found that 58% of people had reevaluated their eco-friendly habits as a result of the pandemic. While 65% responded they were “constantly” worried about the future of the environment, the same number said the pandemic has acted as a wake-up call for them to make sustainable choices.

How has COVID_19 changed people’s eco-friendly habits?

44% say they have become more aware of my impact on the environment.

43% say they’ve been careful to purchase more eco-friendly products.

41% say they have worked to waste less/conserve more resources.

30% say they are better about sorting my recyclables.

26% said they’ve started composting more.

OnePoll of 2,250 Americans conducted on behalf of Republic Services

“These survey results reinforce that Americans can and want to be better recyclers,” said Pete Keller, Republic’s vice president of sustainability and recycling. “In the face of a pandemic, Americans are rightfully thinking about the steps they can take to be less wasteful. Today more than ever, we have a critical need for recycled cardboard, paper, rigid plastic containers, aluminum and tin for manufacturing and the supply chain in the face of COVID-19.”

Jacksonville’s “recycling tour” pushed back 1 week

A free paper shredding and tree giveaway event originally scheduled for Nov. 14 was delayed until Saturday, Nov. 21, when Tropical Storm Eta was threatening the area.

The city of Jacksonville, Keep Jacksonville Beautiful and Republic Services host the annual free paper shredding event in observance of America Recycles Day. For the first time in the event’s 11-year history, a tree giveaway will be part of the activity, with Greenscape of Jacksonville providing more than 2,000 trees to residents on a first-come, first-served basis.

The event runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Prime Osborn Convention Center, 1000 Water St. — just wet of downtown.

For more information, including COVID-19-related safety measures, visit coj.net/AmericaRecycles2020, or call the City’s Neighborhood Services Office at 904- 255-8250 or Greenscape at 904-398-5757.