Now is a great time to focus on waste prevention wherever possible.
According to the US EPA, there is a critical need for the raw materials necessary to manufacture packaging, especially paper and cardboard. Because many businesses are currently closed, the materials they typically recycle are no long in the supply chain.
Medical supplies, food and cleaning supplies are all shipped in 100% recyclable boxes. Please due your part to keep the supply chain moving by recycling more and recycling better.
View a brief Public Service Announcement from the EPA here.
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 recyclables before placing them in the bin.
- Keep materials clean and dry.
- Break down cardboard boxes before placing them in the bin.
- Put recycling and trash in 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. Batteries from electronics and cars can be recycled at specified retail and other locations. Visit Earth911.com to find participating locations. Please also remember that residents of Riverside and Lyons can recycle electronics at the Riverside Public Works facility M-F from 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM.
- If you are spring cleaning, consider setting aside things (batteries, paints, weed killer, plastic bags, clothing, other donations, etc.) to donate, recycle, or dispose of later when it’s safe to bring them to a drop off location or collection event.
- Return grass clippings back onto your lawn instead of bagging them.
