SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): New Hanover County has urged residents boost recycling as part of Plastic-Free July. The call is part of its efforts to improve the county's low recycling participation. According to county recycling officials, only around 11% of residents currently recycle on a regular basis.
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The data published by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) suggests that over half of the materials currently disposed of in landfills could have been recycled instead. According to officials, an improvement in residents’recycling habits would reduce landfill pressure, lower pollution, and conserve natural resources. Public education on right recycling practices will be continued, they said.
Officials reminded residents that recycling is not at all complicated, For instance, paper products, including magazines and cardboard, are generally accepted without removing labels or stickers. Bottles and cans only require a quick rinse before disposal, and there is no need to crush them.
However, plastic bags, cords, and hoses should never be placed in household recycling bins because they can damage sorting equipment. Instead, plastic bags should be taken to designated collection points at grocery stores, officials noted.
New Hanover County recycling programs divert nearly 25,000 tons of waste from landfills every year.