Chances
are there is something in your garbage can that isn't really garbage. More than half of what the typical consumer throws
away can be recycled, reused or converted into new products.
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| Senior Analyst Ed Ruiz likes to recycle |
Waste
prevention and recycling programs have been in place since 1989, when the state
asked local governments to reduce half of the waste stream going
to landfills. Santee exceeded that
diversion requirement, as did the rest of the state, which achieved an overall recycling
rate of 58 percent.
Last
year, the state raised the bar by asking cities to divert at least 75
percent of their waste from landfills by 2020.
To meet
the new goal, Santee needs residents and businesses to be more
vigilant when it comes to recycling.
Here’s
what you can do: Take another look at your trash. Are there items that can be recycled? If so, it's time to separate them.
Yard
waste, which makes up a large part of California's waste stream, can be
recycled in your own backyard through mulching and composting. In
addition to saving landfill space, you'll save on buying fertilizer. Placing vegetable food scraps in a compost
bin can also reduce your volume of garbage.
Make recycling a habit at home and at work. To learn more about what can be recycled, call Waste Management Inc. at (619) 596-5100 or Santee City Hall at (619) 258-4100 Ext. 128.
