Updated December 2nd, 2022
Pop quiz – are you recycling right?
Heads up! This article was last updated 1 year ago.
It’s America Recycles Day and your Five Rivers MetroParks is celebrating with a little sustainability pop quiz. Check out the questions and then mark your calendar for some opportunities that can help you live a more sustainable lifestyle:
TRUE/FALSE: You can’t recycle aerosol cans in Montgomery County.
False. As long as the can is empty and the lid and tips are removed, aerosol cans can be recycled. In fact, there are many items that can be included in Montgomery County’s comingled recycling that can be diverted from the landfill, including magazines, food cartons and magazines. Check out the full list here.
TRUE/FALSE: The average U.S. household wastes 31.9% of it’s food, much of which ends up in the landfill.
True! This means you’re throwing a little more than 33% of your grocery budget away each month. Additionally, 25% more waste is generated during the holiday season. Cut down on food waste by shopping smart, learning how to store food properly and composting your food waste.
Bonus points: Give yourself some bonus points if you eat a plant-based diet. Because meat production accounts for nearly 60% of all greenhouse gas, opting to go meatless or even cut down on meat is a good choice for the environment.
Here are some cooking tips from our favorite bothers at the 2nd Street Market, Lester and Larry of Invoke.
TRUE/FALSE: You can’t recycle things like batteries, hazardous waste and electronics
False. Montgomery County offers opportunities for you to drop off all kinds of household items, from paint to old appliances. View the list of drop off times and locations here. Additionally, you can drop off batteries at the 2nd Street Market anytime during normal hours of operation.
TRUE/FALSE: It can take more than 700 gallons of water to make a single T-shirt.
True! Before you take advantage of holiday sales on clothing, be sure to check your closet. Apparel and footwear industries are responsible for 8% of the worlds greenhouse gas and are huge contributors to the landfill. According to a 2016 McKinsey report, three-fifths of all clothing items will end up in an incinerator or in a landfill within a year of being produced.
Instead of shopping for new clothes, audit your closet to see what you have. Repurpose or donate clothing you no longer need. If you opt for shop for new clothes this season, consider shopping second-hand or from “slow” fashion brands.
How did you score? Even if you scored 100%, your MetroParks encourages you to keep finding opportunities to learn about living more sustainably. Additionally, Five Rivers MetroParks provides special programs that allow you to recycle throughout the year.
Keep learning:
Visit MetroParks website to access its sustainable living education hub. Here, you can learn about many ways be kinder to the environment at home, from building rain barrels to creating a butterfly garden.
Additionally, MetroParks offers programming that allows you to become better stewards of the environment.
Mark your calendars for the next Compost Kitchen program in Feb. 2023 and Master Recycling course in August 2023. Visit metroparks.org/programs-and-events to stay up to date on more programing opportunities.
Recycling opportunities:
- Holiday Lights Recycling – Thanks to a partnership with Cohen, Five Rivers MetroParks will accept broken or unwanted holiday lights at six MetroParks locations starting Dec. 1. Visit metroparks.org to learn more starting Nov. 21.
- Styrofoam Recycling – Local park districts, municipalities and Montgomery County Environmental Services have partnered to offer Styrofoam recycling opportunities throughout the year. Market your calendar for the next opportunity to recycle all your leftover holiday Styrofoam packaging on Saturday, Jan. 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Centerville-Washington Park District headquarters.
