April 22 is Earth Day. Recycling, re-purposing, and reusing items in different ways is as much a part of me as breathing and walking. I cringe when I see recyclables tossed in the trash or when the recycle bin is used inappropriately. If food waste or glass is tossed into a bin, the entire batch is contaminated, so it's important to recycle responsibly.
Do you recall a few weeks ago when a beached whale washed ashore with over 48 pounds of plastic waste inside its body? This is not an isolated incident. Have you ever been boating and someone casually tossed a bottle or can into the ocean or lake? Let's do better. We can all take steps to reduce our ecological footprint.
Before you recycle or toss an item away, think for a moment if the item can be up-cycled, used for a kids craft, used for storage, etc. Can the item be rinsed and reused? Can it be donated? Can it be reinvented? Pinterest has THOUSANDS of ideas for giving new life into once cast aside items. Try to re-purpose before you toss.
When it's time to recycle, please do so responsibly.
Following is information for recycling in Madison, Rankin, and Hinds County, MS:
- In Brandon and Rankin County, MS, Waste Management is our solid waste and recyclable service provider. Although they do not offer curbside recycling, compacting, single stream recycle bins are located in several areas of the county. One location is at 710 Marquette Road in Brandon. Two bins are located near the Ross Barnett Reservoir, one behind the Reservoir Fire Department and Community Complex on Spillway Road, Brandon, while the other is at Fire Station #3 Northshore at 605 Church Road, Brandon.
- The City of Madison, MS provides weekly curbside recycling. Visit The City of Madison website.
- Madison County provides a recycling drop-off bin located at the Southwest Fire Station, 141 Lake Cavalier Road. Visit their web page for more info.
- The City of Jackson, MS provides curbside recycling every other week. Check their website for the date and further instructions.
Waste Management recycles cardboard, magazines, office paper, brown paper bags, newspapers, flyers, paperboard, cardboard, dairy and juice containers, junk mail, phone books, plastic bottles & containers, aluminum cans, aluminum foil, pie tins and tin or steel cans. Glass is not allowed. Crush all plastic containers, aluminum and metal cans. Flatten cardboard. Remove all food waste (rinse).
For more information on where to recycle in your area, contact the city or county agency where you live. If there is no program where you live, check with your school, church, or local government agency about starting one.
Be Kind to Mother Earth! Stay Green.
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of zirconicusso at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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