By Catherine Moran
So, I’m a bit late on breaking this news, but good news is never late, right? Late last month, Mayor Bloomberg announced that New York City’s recycling program would be accepting rigid plastics, i.e. takeout containers and yogurt containers, which had previously not been included in the program.
This is the win for those of us who recycle, and either a) save up our rigid plastics (commonly #5s) to bring on the subway to Whole Foods or b) save up to take home to Massachusetts where they can be recycled (I’m not the only one who does this…am I?)
NYC will save about $600,000, so it’s a win for the piggy bank, as well.
Although the policies are already in place, the new rules won’t be enforced until July, when we’ve all had a chance to try our hand at including rigid plastics in our recycling bins. Change can be hard, and memories can be faulty, but we’ll get there.
I’m uproariously excited about this step forward (I did in fact cheer when I first heard the news). I am taking heart from this move, and hope that it inspires other areas that do not do so currently to begin accepting rigid plastics. If New York City can do it, you can do it, too!
Hopefully, the next initiative will be to get NYC residents composting (could be, according to the article linked to above). Summer is coming, and, with it, the stench of rotting garbage that can confront city residents at any moment. I know that my trash has stopped smelling almost entirely since I began composting, and I need to take it out less, saving trash bags. But more on composting to come!
For now, three cheers for recycling rigid plastics! If you want to learn more, you can check out NYC Recycles’ web page, or keep up to date with new efforts on their Facebook page.
A final note: I thought I might keep a log of the Plastic Bag in the Tree Outside My Window each time I post. It’s still hanging on there (pun intended).
Adventures in Greening is a column running on Kate-book.com every other Monday at noon. It is written by the very eco-conscious Catherine Moran. Follow Catherine on Twitter @folowbredcrumbs, or check out her excellent book blog.
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