TED: RECYCLING, AND MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD.
AFTER ALL, YOU ARE SAVING THE PLANET, SOOTHING MOTHER EARTH.
SORRY TO DISAPPOINT, BUT IT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE.
ACTUALLY, YOU COULD BE MAKING THINGS WORSE.
ACCORDING TO THE STATE’S DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, THE GOOD NEWS IS ABOUT 95% OF MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS SAY THEY RECYCLE REGULARLY.
THE BAD NEWS, ABOUT HALF OF THEM ARE DOING IT WRONG.
SO THE STATE WOULD LIKE TO DO A LITTLE EDUCATING ALONG WITH ITS RECYCLING.
DOING IT WRONG IS A DOLLARS AND CENTS ISSUE.
WHEN YOU CONTAMINATE CITY AND TOWN TO COLLECT AND RECYCLE.
TED: BRETT COOPER WITH THE BUSINESS COMPLIANCE AND RECYCLING DIVISION AT THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
>> THAT CONTAMINATION IS ALSO A POTENTIAL THREAT FOR WORKERS.
SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT CAN GET JAMMED AND IT ENDANGERS THEM OUT THERE JOB.
TED: WHAT IS SOME OF THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD THINGS PEOPLE ASSUME THEY CAN RECYCLE BUT THEY SHOULD NOT?
>> THE BIGGEST CULPRIT IS PLASTIC BAGS.
THEY GET CAUGHT UP IN CONVEYOR BELTS AND OTHER MATERIAL THAT CAUSES MACHINERY TO COME TO A HALT WHICH COSTS MONEY.
YOU CAN TAKE THEM BACK TO THE GROCERY STORE AND THEY WILL GET RECYCLED.
TED: THOSE ARE NOT THE ONLY CONTAMINANTS.
>> FOOD WASTE, ROPES, CORDS, HOSES, BIG PLASTIC ITEMS THAT ARE NOT BOTTLES, CANS, JARS OR DRUGS.
TE THE STATE SETS THE RULES ON WHAT YOU CANNOT PUT IN THE TRASH LIKE PAPER, BOTTLES AND CANS, BUT IT IS UP TO INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITIES TO DECIDE WHAT TO RECYCLE AND HOW, CURBSIDE OR
DROP OFF.
>> RECYCLING IS A COMMODITY.
THE BEST WAY TO SELL IT IS TO PRODUCE A COMMODITY THAT IS -- HAS VALUE, IS CLEAN.
TED: THERE HAS BEEN INCREASED INCENTIVE TO RECYCLE RIGHT, BOTH ON THE STATE AND MUNICIPAL LEVEL.
>> WHAT WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING OF LATE IS POOR RECYCLING MARKET.
CHINA HAS REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF RECYCLABLES EXCEPTED.
THE COMMONWEALTH GENERATES 4.5 MILLION TONS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE FOR DISPOSAL.
ABOUT 3/4 GOES FROM WASTE TO ENERGY AND THE REST TO LANDFILL.
IT IS HARDER AND HARDER TO CITE FACILITIES IN THE STATE WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL SO WE DO NOT HAVE TO BUILD MORE LANDFILLS AND INCINERATORS.
TED: ONE WAY TO AVOID THAT OUTCOME IS WITH THE RECYCLING IQ PROGRAM.
CITIES AND TOWNS APPLY FOR A GRANT FOR OUTREACH MATERIALS AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES WHO GO OUT AND EDUCATE RESIDENTS.
>> THEY WALK THE STREETS, TALK WITH RESIDENTS, INFORM THEM WHEN THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT AND WRONG.
TED: LYNN IS ONE OF THE FIRST COMMUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM.
WORKERS GO BARREL TO BARREL AND EVALUATE WHAT IS INSIDE.
PLEASE, NO PLASTIC BAG.
>> MAY BE AT A SMILEY FACE.
TE IT GETS TAGGED WITH AN EXPLANATION ON WHY IT WAS REJECTED.
>> THE POINT IS SO WE SEE THIS FIRST IN THE DRIVERS SEE THIS SECOND.
THEY WILL KNOW NOT TO TAKE THIS.
IT IS A TWO IN ONE.
A MESSAGE FOR THE RESIDENTS AND DRIVERS.
TED: IT IS ALREADY MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
>> IT HAD A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON REDUCING CONTAMINATION RECYCLING.
TED: IT DOES NOT STOP WHEN YOU DRAG IT TO THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY.
BOTH YOUR TRASH AND RECYCLING LEAVE LASTING IMPRESSIONS ON YOUR COMMUNITY, THE ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT.
>> WE LIVE IN A BEAUTIFUL STATE AND HAVE WONDERFUL PARKS, FORESTS AND RIVERS AND WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THOSE.
ONE IS TO MAKE SURE WE MANAGE OUR TRASH EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY.
SHAYNA: JUST BECAUSE AN ITEM CANNOT BE RECYCLED CURBSIDE DOES NOT MEAN IT CANNOT BE RECYCLED AT ALL.
HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE WCVB.COM AND WE WILL LINK YOU TO A LOCAL RECYCLING SITE.
THERE YOU CAN RESEARCH RECYCLOPEDIA