Lincoln recycling companies give sustainability tips post-holidays - KOLN
Lincoln recycling companies give sustainability tips post-holidays
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - As we move past the Christmas holiday, you may still have leftover packaging to get rid of, but it can be hard to know what to do with all of it. Recycling companies see an uptick in cardboard and wrapping paper from November to January, but not everything can go in the recycling bin.
Several Lincolnites took a trip to their nearest collection site to get rid of their recyclables. Recommended items to recycle include clean cardboard and plain gift wrap free of glitter, ribbons, and bows.
“Clean, corrugated cardboard is actually banned from the landfill. So, we don’t want that going into the landfill, it has to be recycled. And that can be curbside or through one of our recycling sites,” said Shay Flowerday, Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU).
But there are some items, that should not be recycled.
“Plastic bags, and Styrofoam are not recyclable through curbside or through our recycling sites currently. These types of items and really any kind of filmy plastic, like bubble wrap, or any of the pillows that come with your online orders, those will all have to go either to the trash. For grocery bags, there are bins at groceries stores where you can drop them at the front,” said Flowerday.
While it is an extra step, understanding what bin your holiday waste goes in can go a long way.
“People are what we like to call wish cyclers where you know, you want to keep things out of the landfill, but what you’re recycling may not be recyclable. So always educating yourself, of what’s recyclable. And you can do that also at the City of Lincoln websites,” said Melissa Mercier, Uribe Refuse Services.
LTU also emphasizes the importance of staying alert when arriving to collection sites.
“With an increase in traffic at these sites, it’s important to just be cognizant of your surroundings. And if you see a Husker Refuse truck coming through to grab one of the bins, just be sure to stay out of their way as much as possible,” said Flowerday.
Recycling trucks will not be making rounds on New Year’s Day but will resume on Jan. 2.
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