Recycling in Bentonville

Written By: Amanda BurnsChelsea BurnsStephanie York

Instructors: Dr. Canoy and Dianne Phillips

Recycling Facts

• In 1999, recycling and composting activities prevented about 64 million tons of material from ending up in landfills and incinerators.

• 42% of all paper, 40% of all plastic soft drink bottles, 55% of all aluminum beer and soft drink cans, 57% of all steel packaging, and 52% of all major appliances are now recycled. However, it is in the hands of each individual to make sure these items are disposed of properly.

• Arkansas recycled 1.9 million tons, or 40.2%, of its waste in 2004. With more community participation and awareness those numbers can and will rise.

Goal: To better inform Bentonville

residents of the current recycling policy and how they can

contribute to the recycling effort.

Current Policy

• Compost Drop-Off– Material accepted: leaves, grass, limbs,

and brush.– Materials NOT accepted: tree stumps,

root balls, railroad ties, sod, dirt, concert, tires, wire or twine, appliances, wood/lumber products.

– Runs April-November

Current Policy

• Blue bag program– Unlimited number of bags– Picked up on the 1st and 3rd full week of

the month (twice a month)– Green, Blue, and Clear glass in only

recycled when it is dropped off at the facility.

Recyclable Items• Paper

– Computer and tablet paper– Brown paper bags– Envelopes

• Plastics– Milk and water jugs– Soda bottles

• Metals– Aluminum cans– Steel or tin cans

• Other– Cardboard – Chipboard– Newspaper (including inserts)

Drop-Off Recycling• All materials need to be segregated and

loose.• All materials need to be rinsed and

drained.• All caps and lids should be discarded

from bottles.• Cardboard containers should be broken

down and flattened.• No Pyrex, catalogs, magazines, styrofoam

or egg cartons.

Local Business Recycling

• Businesses generate 45% of this country waste.– Managing it costs billions each year.

• One of the benefits for recycling is a tax credit.

• The Benton County Solid Waste district, a local state agency, will help companies identify ways to encourage recycling and reduce

waste while bringing down waste disposal costs.

• Kids Recycling Challenge– Most successful plastic bag recycling

program of its kind– Extended the program to 12 states:

Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming

– More than 1,000 schools have enrolled in the program and have recycled over 350 tons of plastic bags, earning more than $327,000 from Wal-Mart.

• Recycled Products– Each week, a semi

truck comes and picks up plastic bags and other recyclables from each Wal-Mart store.

– Those materials get shipped to Bentonville, AR where a mill recycles the plastic bags into patio furniture and various other items.

Simple Ideas To Recycle• At home

– Buy refillable products– Buy fabric grocery bags– Buy loose fruit or vegetables

instead of pre-packaged

• At work– Make recycling bins close to people

desks– Find computer and electronic recycling businesses in your area– “Wipe Out Wireless Waste” May 25,

2007– Chose printers with two-sided printing

• At school– Teachers can inform students about

the importance of recycling– Buy recycled items (paper, pencils,

etc)

– Make it a school-wide competition– Email newsletter and post information

on websites instead of using paper.

• At leisure– When exercising take a reusable bottle

– Borrow books, CDs, DVDs, from your local library instead of buying them

– Recycle old mobile phones– Don’t through away old stuff use

or another online auction site

• In the garden– Buy recycled plastic for decking and

garden furniture– Keep a pile of pruning/clippings in a

corner of the garden to encourage toads and hedgehogs for natural pest control

How to Get Started

• Identify which materials can be recycled

• Get blue bags or recycling bin• Put recycling container next to trash

bins• Label bin clearly• Inform others

Bibliographyhttp://www.keepbentoncountybeautiful.com/http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/48194/http://www.co.benton.ar.us/Environment/

recyclingoptions.htmlhttp://www.keeparkansasbeautiful.com/

recycling_waste/http://www.recyclenow.com/http://www.allbusiness.com/services/business-

services/3924934-1.htmlhttp://www.scchealth.org/docs/es/docs/recycle/

recycling_facts.html