What Really Happens with Bedford Recycling?
According to the EPA, global waste levels are expected to increase by 25-30% over the holiday season. While we can each do our part to make our holidays as “green” as possible, Bedford 2030 paid a visit to Win-Waste MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) in Stamford, to verify the success of Bedford’s recycling efforts.
The good news: this facility has an overall waste fraction of 24%, meaning their recycling success rate is 76%.
Because Bedford’s items are commingled with other municipalities and commercial haulers, there is evidence that Bedford’s rate could be even higher.
"It's gratifying to learn that the recycling rate for Bedford far exceeds commonly quoted statistics ranging from 9% to 30%. It is great to know that recyclables are getting recycled when properly disposed of. We applaud our residents for their efforts and concern for the environment."
The best way to improve recycling rates is by improved sorting. For example, do you wonder what to do with the caps on plastic bottles and glass containers? Here’s the answer: For plastic bottles, screw on the cap very tightly and there is a good chance it will be recycled. The opposite is true of glass containers – remove those caps before recycling and place them in the trash.
In Bedford’s Single-Stream recycling system, all recyclables go in the same bin and should be empty, rinsed, and placed loose in your bin (not in plastic bags). Plastic bags are the worst offenders as they wreak havoc with the sorting machines. Garden hoses, chapsticks or razors, and items that are hazardous to employees and the environment, should also stay out of the recycling bin.
For guidance of disposal of these and other items, visit https://bedford2030.org/recyclopedia.
“Our visit confirmed that WIN Waste’s operation of their Single Stream MRF is up to date, efficient and well run, offering Bedford and other towns the benefit of a modern separation system. A company wide marketing program for baled recyclables enables them to find and ship materials to multiple secondary users in the US and worldwide for further processing and ultimate reuse.”
Advocating for plastic reduction
Bedford 2030 has also joined “Beyond Plastics” in advocating for the NYS Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S4246-a/A5322-a) to require companies to:
- Reduce their packaging by 50% in 12 years.
- Make the remaining packaging truly reusable or recyclable.
- Get certain toxic chemicals out of packaging.
- Pay to clean up their packaging waste by reimbursing municipalities and taxpayers for the collection and processing of those materials.
Many single-use plastics are NOT recyclable, and it’s time to demand better alternatives. CLICK THIS LINK to indicate your support of this bill before the legislative session in January.
Reduce first, then Reuse, and finally, Recycle
“Reduce” and “reuse” remain priority means of addressing excessive waste, but recycling remains an important component of waste reduction. We are happy to share that Bedford’s efforts are not in vain. Thank you for working together as a community to reduce waste, thereby ensuring a healthier, cleaner community. Happy holidays!