Yolo County has added food and beverage cartons to its list of recyclable materials, starting on America Recycles Day. Locals can now place drink cartons in their recycling bins, expanding what can be responsibly disposed of in the area.
According to the Yolo County website, starting yesterday, residents under the WM's service in areas such as Woodland and West Sacramento will be able to easily recycle their cartons. "We are excited to announce a new milestone in our efforts to reduce waste and promote sustainability in Yolo County," Marissa Juhler, the Director of Integrated Waste Division at Yolo County, explained in a statement. She encouraged the local community to participate actively and help maintain the cleanliness and environmental health of their area. On the other hand, those serviced by Recology can look forward to dropping off their cartons at a designated site in Davis starting December 1.
The push for recycling these carton types, which include the likes of milk and juice containers, comes in response to a recognized potential for growth in recycling these materials in the state, where only an estimated 20% of the 70,000 tons generated annually is recycled. By increasing the recycling of these cartons, which are comprised of paper, polyethylene, and aluminum, the materials can find new life in products ranging from building materials to paper towels.
The WM is investing $29 million in advanced technology at the Sacramento Recycling and Transfer Station. This includes 16 automated optical sorters to improve the facility's efficiency and output quality. The addition of carton materials to the recycling stream supports this investment, boosting the economy and helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions by better managing resources.
