April Green Wednesdays hosted by the Green Chamber of the South brought Gloria Hardegree of the Georgia Recycling Coalition to the speakers podium. Covering a variety of materials management and recycling topics for the state of Georgia, Hardegree discussed some of the legislative challenges faced by the industry. The highlight of the speech was discussing the Made in Georgia campaign which features manufacturing in Georgia that uses high recycled content to create their products. To read in order start at the bottom and read up.

 

  • For true sustainability in recycling everything needs to be looked as waste and scrap. It's all a resource for a second or third life
  • Stop calling yard waste and food waste - waste. It's then perceived as a landfill. We need to call it yard resources and food resources
  • If you have a composting facility in you have to have a full permit
  • will take polystyrene (Styrofoam) peanuts for recycling
  • has to have an end market so remember more recycling needs to have higher demand in the marketplace too
  • There is a lot of research around the "perfect" hot cup that is recyclable
  • is now recycling their cups if you take it inside the store
  • What about Styrofoam? There are options. You can recycle it although not widely yet.
  • The only thing not allowed in a landfill in Georgia is car lead batteries and tires
  • Things that make you go hmmm! Why is it when you move into a new house there are 10 gallons of half used paint in the basement?
  • When recycling make sure your recyclables are clean and dry! I wash mine in the dishwasher before they go in the bin.
  • April 9th and Will-I-Am are hosting an international A Day Without Waste. Be a part of it!
  • Recycling reduces waste, create jobs, and is an economic engine for
  • And once you replace your toilet for a low flow don't forget to recycle your old toilet! Bet you didn't see that coming ;0)
  • Prescription recycling - do not pour old prescriptions down drain. Your local law enforcement department holds multiple events to recycle
  • You have to check with your recycler. But at it's most basic everyone takes 1 & 2. Start with that and you will be surprised
  • There is no excuse now not your electronics now. Best Buy will take it all. Some items might have a fee but
  • Big education needed around composting. The public thinks of it as garbage, dirty and smelly. Need to communicate to public the value
  • The Airport will have real recycling in place soon. Great work by the Sustainability Team there to get it done.
  • Don't be a dream recycler! Don't recycle something because you wish it could be . Follow the directions to prevent contamination
  • Kitchen sinks are recyclable but not on the curbside
  • Contamination of the single stream program is creating a challenge.
  • The Recycling Program from the Georgia Department of Sustainability is now housed on the Georgia Recycling Coalition website
  • There is municipality growth. Columbus starts curbside recycling next week and Augusta is expanding
  • Apartments and Condos are a difficult place for the recycling conversation. Check out Georgia Recycling Coalition website for info to help.
  • There school kits for children on the Georgia Recycling Coalition
  • Georgia is the second largest state for paper products thanks to Caraustar and Pratt
  • 1/3 of all the plastic containers recycled in the US is used by the carpet industry
  • 8% of all the paper recycled in the country is actually recycled in
  • Coca-Cola has come on board to really fill out the map which will have several layers and economic analysis
  • The Georgia Department of Economic Development is partnering with Georgia Recycling Coalition to build the map to include numbers about $$
  • The three arrows in the recycling arrows stands for recycle it, process it, and purchase recycled.
  • Made in Georgia is a program that mapped the entire recycling industry in the state of Georgia
  • at work is so important and yet a lot of companies still don't do it.
  • Georgia Recycle Coalition is a national sponsor of National Composting Week - first week in May.
  • Do not film in your curbside recycling as it will get caught up on the machinery. Recycle film at the store.
  • When in doubt about recycling contact your collector to know exactly what you can
  • Very cute byline for the plastic It's A Bag Life program - don't treat me like trash ;0)
  • If it only tears then can't be recycled.
  • If you want to know what type of plastic can go in the bins at the grocery store is the plastic that stretches.
  • A Bags Life is a multi-media program to get awareness around plastic film beyond plastic grocery bags. It can all be !
  • Georgia Recycling Coalition is a 501C3 and is 23 years old - They are affiliated with several national associations
  • Gloria Hardegree of the Georgia Recycling Coalition Happy
  • Okay here we go! Get ready for the tweets
  • Green Wednesdays – Georgia Recycling Coalition