Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

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11/14/2017

Recycling Rules Now the Same Across Connecticut - Easy to Tell People “What’s IN, What’s OUT”

Outreach effort launched to increase effectiveness of residential recycling

  • Bottle caps from plastic water bottles – in or out?
  • Pizza boxes – in or out?
  • Shredded paper – in or out?
  • Plastic bags – in or out?
There’s no longer any need for guesswork about what goes into the blue recycling bin and what you should put in the garbage.
That’s because – for the first time ever – recycling rules have been standardized across the state – and there’s now an instant source of information about them.
“We worked closely with recycling coordinators in our cities and towns and the six facilities in our state that accept recycled material to get everyone on the same page,” said Robert Klee, Commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.  “With one set of rules in place everywhere, it’s now easier to provide people with the information they need to recycle more effectively.”
The public outreach effort to increase awareness of recycling rules is being spearheaded by The RecycleCT Foundation, a state–chartered fund that combines public and private resources to support the state’s recycling goals.
The outreach is built around the theme of “What’s IN, What’s OUT” and information about it can be found at http://www.recyclect.com/
The website offers:
  • A widget – that is mobile friendly - that provides a quick answer to questions about what can be recycled and what can’t.
  • Short videos to highlight recycling issues.
  • Material that cities and towns can download and print to share with their residents – including a brochure with a  convenient list of items that can be recycled.
The outreach effort also includes social media messages for Facebook and Twitter that playfully highlight the “What’s IN, What’s OUT” theme.
“Increased household recycling is a key component of our effort to achieve the state’s new goal of 60 percent diversion of materials from the waste stream by 2024,” said Commissioner Klee, who also serves on the RecycleCT Foundation Council.  “To achieve that goal we must encourage people to recycle better by placing the correct items in the recycling bin.”
“When unacceptable items are placed in the recycling bin, it causes problems at the recycling facilities and also reduces the value of recycling materials,” said Commissioner Klee.  “This diminishes the effectiveness of our recycling efforts because recycling is not just about collecting material –  it is about making sure those materials are captured and made into new products.” 

In addition to environmental benefits, recycling offers real savings for taxpayers and businesses by reducing costs for waste disposal.  It is estimated that achieving the state’s 60% diversion rate would save an additional $40 million/year in avoided disposal fees.
Recycling is also good for Connecticut’s economy because it helps to create jobs. Recycling related employment is responsible for nearly 5,000 jobs across the state and approximately $750 million in annual sales.
Answers to Recycling Questions
  • Bottle caps from – “IN” recycling bin if they are on the bottle, loose caps are “OUT” and should be put in the trash.
  • Pizza boxes – “IN” recycling bin if no food or liners.
  • Shredded paper – Keep “OUT” of recycling bin and should be put in the trash.  Dust created by shredded paper causes issues at recycling facilities
  • Plastic bags – Keep “OUT” of recycling bin and “OUT” of the trash.  Plastic bags – and other “plastic wrap” items – should be kept separate and taken back to one of the many retail locations that accept them.  Sorted plastic bags and wraps are a valuable commodity as they can be used to make outdoor decking material.  www.plasticfilmrecycling.org
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