Sustainability Initiative

Recommended Reads

Recycling

"I put plastic water bottles in the bottom of large outdoor planters.  Keeps the bottles out of landfills, takes up space to save potting soil and makes planters lighter. And I made a donation to World Hunger Year to get a reusable water bottle. Fight hunger and reduce plastic waste at the same time."
• 7-Day Plastic Challenge comment from Chris


Over consumption and throw-away culture have led to a Global Waste Crises.  Almost 20% of the trash is made of plastic and not biodegradable. Unless they're repurposed or recycled, they end up in landfills or break down into micro-plastics that can enter our water supply and food chain. Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled according to 2018 data from the EPA. PETE and HDPE (1 & 2) are recycled more consistently because there are reliable markets for them. Plastics labeled 3-7 are the least recyclable.

Don't "wish-cycle"!  Here are some solutions to responsibly dispose of those hard-to-recycle products:

  • Plastic garden pots: return to Lowes Garden Centers and selected Home Depot stores
  • Batteries and pens: collected separately in the Library’s lobby
  • Light bulbs, batteries, phones: bring to Lowes
  • All-in-one computers, cables, mice, e-readers, and more: bring to Best Buy
  • Eyeglasses:  Lions Club bin inside the Library
  • Plastic bags:  bin inside Stop & Shop stores or inside the Library

For free and paid recycling opportunities for your home and business, check out these innovative companies:  Terracycle.com, Earth911.com, and Trex.com