PASCO COUNTY RECYCLING AND Recycling Update EDUCATION NOVEMBER 2015 727- 8 5 6 - 4 5 3 9 [email protected] No Bags By The Numbers Starting October 1st, 2015, plastic bags of Since June 2013, we have had the Choose Do you know plastic? You any kind were no longer accepted in our and Use Your Own Container program; bags can recycle plastic bottles, recycling stream. Recyclables now must be were discouraged, but still allowed. For two jars, and small containers put at the curb loose in a permanent months prior to Oct. 1st, the NO bags with codes #1-5 and 7. container. change was advertised on cable, radio, newspaper, the website, and social media. This means you can This change was necessary due to a drop in Some people contacted us after Oct. 1st….. recycle……. the market for recyclables. For the separation process, plastic bags require a We got 1,675 calls! Honey bears, yogurt cups, slower machine feed rate, they entangle and apple sauce or fruit cups, can cause costly repairs, but mostly they We gave 6 presentations to 241 folks! shampoo bottles, are contamination and substantially lower the value of a bale. When times were good 95.82% gave a thumb’s up to the program! conditioner bottles, and markets robust, the processors were bodywash bottles, milk willing to tolerate the bags. This is no jugs, juice bottles, water longer the case. bottles, 2-liter soda bottles, margarine tubs, mouthwash bottles, 30th PASCO COASTAL CLEANUP ketchup bottles, BBQ This year was the 30th anniversary of the bottles, mustard bottles, Coastal Cleanup, which has meant cleaner waterways and streets for our citizens. On whipped topping tubs, September 19th, more than 1,150 volunteers vitamin and medicine picked up about 22 tons, or 44,000 pounds of bottles (empty), dish soap trash. That is a 10 percent increase from 2014. The volunteers picked up all kinds of bottles, laundry detergent trash including televisions, a swimming pool bottles, sour cream tubs, filter, a car bumper, and a number of tires. peanut butter jars, creamer bottles, produce containers, laundry softener bottles, sanitary UPCYCLE EVENT Many things can be reused to reduce wipe containers, cleaner The Pasco Upcycle Festival is a partnership between Keep Pasco Beautiful and Pasco the amount of waste in our environment. bottles, spice containers, County. This first year event is There is a term for the ingenious process chocolate syrup bottles, scheduled for Saturday, November of reinventing something with a coffee tubs, mayo jars, 14th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the new purpose: upcycle. shortening tubs, vegetable Little Everglades Ranch located at The purpose of the Pasco oil bottles, salad dressing 17951 Hamilton Road in Dade City. Upcycle Festival is to reduce This event will have numerous waste by changing peoples’ bottles…. upcycle vendors with items such as perceptions of what can be pallet furniture and spoon bracelets. salvaged into not only something For entertainment there will be a useful, but often times a work of stage with Bluegrass bands. There will be no art. For more information on the event admission to enter the festival, although email [email protected] or call there will be a $5 parking fee. (727) 856-7252 Recycle smart!
Crushing your plastics
may make them smaller, The Second R Most recyclers know the adage item and prolonging its life cycle is “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!” but too known as remanufacturing, while any but it also leads to often the ‘reuse’ part of the equation good handyman or handywoman is left out. With sustainability gaining knows the financial benefits of repair. contamination, as recognition, the reuse and repurposing Why not take a look around and see if of materials is taking center stage. something you own can be given new machines mistake a The art of reuse comes in many life? forms. Upcycling is when new life is squished bottle for given to an unwanted item by repurposing it in some way. Instead of something else. Leave destruction, reuse boasts deconstruction, which means a building the 3D objects as 3D or business is dismantled and salvaged for usable materials. Freecycling and help your recycling promotes community involvement by the free exchange of gently used go to the right place. items. Replacing worn-out parts of an THE EVOLVING TON number of tons recycled. What can Recycling commodities rise and packaging has changed the you do to help? Recycle more! The fall in value, plastics are coded to volume of recycling versus the more you recycle, the higher the indicate grade, the number of weight of recycling. weights get, and the more you ensure participants changes, and at every the stability of the recycling industry. step of the way, weights matter. You’ll be helping the economy and Tons of recycling are sold, shipped, making an environmental difference in and bought, but what happens when the future of our world. a ton isn’t really a ton? The amount of recyclable material Over the years, manufacturers in everyday life is nothing less than have realized the benefits of creating astonishing. Check out the list on the lighter products and slimmer front page and see if there’s anything packaging. Thinner containers means around the house you could move less greenhouse gas emissions, Recycling processors churn savings on fuel costs, and less overall through much more recycling by from the trash bag to the recycling bin. waste. However, the evolution of volume to break even on the THE ART OF RECYCLING The Art of Recycling is a student pieces go on display at the West your piece compete for prizes. For more exhibit featuring art made from Pasco Government Center during information about how to enter, call recycled materials. It has been a great the month of February, and the 813-794-7936 or 727-856-4539. success, and this is its 20th year! High winners are shown at the School school students from all across the Board offices in Land O’ Lakes county are eligible to participate. There through March. are cash winners in 15 categories, and To enter, pick up an Entry Form a graduating senior will win a $1,000 from your High School Art teacher scholarship. The art must have an envi- and enter your school’s ronmental theme. Entries can include competition. Be chosen as one of paintings, prints, ceramics, sculptures, your school’s 7 finalists, and have architecture, or wearable art. All