Recycle Right during COVID-19
Dear Customer,
As we all adjust to impacts of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, it is more important than ever that we Recycle Right during this time when recyclables are needed more than ever. Facial tissues, toilet paper, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes have been flying off store shelves as families are spending more hours at home to stay healthy and safe during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The recyclable materials collected from homes and businesses go on to WM customers to create new essential products like tissue/toweling, and packaging boxes for medical and grocery supplies.
Recycling is an essential service for manufacturing companies delivering these key products. In fact, the Department of Homeland Security has designated recycling as “an essential service” and manufacturers of products and packaging across the country are reminding recyclers of their critical role in providing feedstock for their production facilities ( Critical Infrastructure Guidance ) .
As our Vice President of Recycling Brent Bell said, “Most of us don’t think about how our recyclables are used when we place them in our recycling bins. Now it is more important than ever to recycle correctly, as recyclable products are playing a critical role in our nation’s manufacturing business. Across North America, people are generating more household garbage and recyclable materials than usual, and manufacturers are in need of more clean recyclable materials to meet their demands for making basic goods and emergency supplies. We can all do our part by recycling right during these challenging times.”
RECYCLE ONLY CLEAN, DRY AND LOOSE:
· Cardboard (without inside packing materials)
· Paper (newspaper, mail, office/school paper)
· Paperboard, such as cereal and cracker boxes
· Plastic bottles and jugs
· Steel and tin cans
· Aluminum cans
THROW AWAY:
· Plastic bags and plastic film wrap
· Liquid soap/ hand sanitizer bottles with residue
· Disinfectant wipes
· Plastic, latex or cloth disposable gloves & masks
· Facial tissues, napkins and paper towels
· Disposable plates, cups and cutlery
· Takeout containers
· Leftover food and liquids
· Hoses, cords, and polystyrene foam
In addition, several leading industry organizations have weighed in calling for increased recycling to meet the needed demand during this time, including:
To learn more information about Waste Management Recycle Right tips, please visit wm.com/recycleright.
Thank you for your continued support of recycling!
Sincerely,
Waste Management
New England/Upstate New York
