How Lexington’s Recycling Plant Operates Daily Amid Challenges

Inside the Face of the $200B Industry: Recycling

LEXINGTON –

Only a small percentage of the world’s waste material ends up being recycled, despite recycling being a $200 billion industry. Here in Lexington, about 90% of residents have access to trash and recycling bins. Despite this, many residents are calling for an improved waste management solution due to misuse and confusion about recyclable materials.

From the Streets to the Machines: Processing Lexington’s Waste

The daily operations of Lexington’s recycling plant involve a combination of manpower and machinery. On a daily basis, these workers and machines handle various materials including glass, plastic, cartons, and fiber collected from across the city. After sorting and cleaning, these items are then shipped to various locations for reuse as part of a continuous effort to create a cleaner world.

However, ensuring the purity of the recyclable materials is not an easy task. “Only problem with the recyclable bins, a lot of people walk by and just put regular trash in the recyclable bins. They’re all over the place, they’re marked, but people just don’t read what they see”, says a local citizen and recycling advocate.

Challenges and Improvements

The recycling process has been complicated by the mixing of regular trash with recyclable items. One alarming recent issue has been the discovery of medical waste among recycled items. Despite these challenges, the city is constantly striving to refine its recycling operations. Over the past fiscal year, the plant has seen $4 million worth of improvements, a significant step towards better waste management.

It was mentioned that one key enhancement that citizens should note is the plant’s newly acquired capacity to recycle cartons. This means that milk cartons, orange juice cartons, broth boxes, and other similar items are now accepted in the city’s recycling bins.

Helping the Battle: Educating the Public

Because we can only recycle certain materials, knowing what can and cannot be recycled is crucial for the process to run smoothly. Broadly speaking, acceptable items include bottles, plastic, glass, paper, and cardboard whereas all other items should be discarded in the regular trash.

Additionally, it is noted that aluminum should be favored over glass bottles, as the former is easier to recycle. Importantly, residents are asked to put all recyclables in bins loose, not in plastic bags.

To further help citizens familiarize themselves with proper recycling practices or to answer any recycling-related questions, Lexington offers useful information on their official website.

Conclusion: Your Part in Creating a Cleaner World

With the right practices and enough knowledge, any one of us can contribute to a greener Earth. Remember, recycling just one product can go a long way in preserving the environment, so let’s stay educated and make recycling a habit.