FAYETTEVILLE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Recycling isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but New York state is making strides to simplify the process.
Just in time for Earth Day, New York state launched a statewide recycling website, Recycle Right, to clear up common recycling myths and guide people towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
“One of the most common misperceptions that people have about recycling is that if a plastic item has a recycling symbol on the bottom, that it is recyclable; and that’s not the case. That’s not true,” said Andrew Radin, recycling and waste reduction director at OCCRA.
Another misconception is about an object found in most homes — egg cartons. Whether it be styrofoam, paper, or hard plastic, egg cartons are mostly never recyclable, said SUNY-ESF Associate Professor Doug Daley.
“In Onondaga County, none of those cartons are considered recyclable,” Daley said. “So, even though paper egg cartons are made out of paper, they’re not recyclable. Even if we educate consumers, are they going to understand why?”
Although Daley thinks the Recycle Right website is a step in the right direction, he said he thinks it might not be enough.
“It’s going to be effective,” Daley said. “Is it going to be 100% effective for all people all the time? Well, I don’t think any website rises to that standard. But the idea here is to get some sort of consistency across the state of New York.”
Since recycling differs from one municipality to another, Daley said the Recycle Right website will take some weight off of local leaders when it comes to recycling education.
The NYS website clarifies which plastic containers are recyclable, and how to correctly recycle them.
“Some plastics have a market and are recyclable, and some plastics do not,” Radin said. “We as residents and as waste generators [should be] aware of what the recycling guidelines are for the community. We have personal responsibility.”
Although we have a personal responsibility to check our recyclables, corporate leaders also play a role.
“Corporate responsibility is in short supply right now,” Radin said. “If they’re going to speak about their company’s sustainability efforts and provide us as consumers and customers with that information on their website, that’s great. But, they have to make that meaningful. And in the case of some of their product packaging they’re not always meeting that obligation to consumers and, frankly, to the environment.”
Educating communities on how to recycle is the first step towards a green future. But we also need local corporate and political leaders to do their part, Radin and Daley said.
