Maximum Recycling Facts

What to Recycle || Providence ||  How to Get a Bin || Why Recycle? || Recycling Information on the Web

How is Providence doing with Maximum Recycling? : Overall Providence is making a good transition to Maximum Recycling, but we still have a long way to go. Currently Providence residents only recycle 10% (out of a possible 40%) of their garbage. Compare this to Warwick which is currently at 25% or Newport which is at 22% and we have some catching up to do.

Need a Recycling Bin?: Blue and green bins are available at the Department of Public Works (700 Allens Ave.) for $5, they are open from 8:30am-4:30pm, call 467-7950.

Why Recycle?

• Good for the Environment
• Maximum Recycling will help Providence residents cut down on the amount of natural resources we waste and help reduce pollution that is created harvesting and manufacturing these resources into products we use.
• Good for Rhode Island Currently all of our household waste goes to Central Landfill in Johnston. The landfill has about 9-12 years of life left before it will need to be capped and closed. No one knows where our trash will go after that. By getting more materials out of our garbage bags and into the recycle bins we are extending the life expectancy of the landfill.
• Good for our neighborhoods Providence pays $32 per ton of garbage to dispose of our household waste at the landfill. Providence pays $0 / ton to take our recyclable materials to the recycling plant. Providence stands to save $200,000 - $300,000 / year if Maximum Recycling is effective. That is money that can be redirected back into our neighborhoods to improve our parks, sidewalks, street trees, etc.
  

Helpful Recycling Links

Rhode Island Resource Recovery RIRRC's runs Rhode Island's landfill and materials recycling facility. Their site has useful information about recycling and household hazardous waste disposal.

America Recycles Day An organization dedicated to promoting recycling and buying recycled products.

Conservatree How many trees does it take to make paper?

Eco-Speak - Understanding the Language of Recycling. From the Federal Trade Commission a brief guide to the truths behind recycling claims on product labels.

Recycling Factoids Fun recycling factoids from a variety of sources.

Simplify the Holidays Great ideas for a low impact holiday and creating less trash for the holiday season. You'll need Adobe Acrobat to read the entire brochure.

The Rotten Truth About Garbage This extraordinary site might just give you a whole new perspective on why thinking of our trash as garbage is just a big waste.

Weekly Prices for Recyclable Materials Weekly prices for plastic, glass, metal and paper per ton. If you are a capitalist you can use this site to decide if it is worth recycling this week.

Groundwork Providence's recycling education program is funded through the generosity of the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation.