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<br />What is recycling?Recycling is the process of turning
<br />what could have been waste into
<br />a resource, whether it is a new
<br />water bottle, a fleece jacket or materials
<br />to build a new home. Recycling involves
<br />collecting recyclables like paper, card-
<br />board, glass, aluminum and plastic, then
<br />taking them to a recycling
<br />center where they are pro-
<br />cessed. These materials
<br />are sorted at the recycling
<br />center and purchased by
<br />manufacturers who use
<br />them to make new products.
<br />Republic’s Commitment to Recycling
<br />At Republic Services, we believe we are
<br />guardians of our environment and have
<br />a responsibility to regenerate our planet
<br />with the materials we are entrusted to
<br />handle every day by driving increased
<br />recycling, generating renewable en-
<br />ergy, and helping our customers in 300
<br />locations across the country be more
<br />resourceful.
<br />Some of the meaningful ways people
<br />demonstrate environmental responsibil-
<br />ity include taking the time to separate
<br />recyclables from other waste, making the
<br />conscious decision to minimize the use
<br />of plastic shopping bags at the store, and
<br />conserving water at home. These have
<br />an indisputable environmental impact.
<br />But is it enough? Will these choices by
<br />themselves sustain our planet for future
<br />generations? We could each do more to
<br />reduce, reuse and recycle in daily life.
<br />The reality is people care about the envi-
<br />ronment and want to be environmentally
<br />responsible. Republic Services wants
<br />to assure our 14 million customers that
<br />recyclables are indeed recycled the right
<br />way. We relentlessly pursue innovation in
<br />our services, products, and capabilities,
<br />making it easy for customers to do more
<br />of the right thing with confidence.
<br />Reducing the carbon footprint
<br />Republic’s world-class recycling opera-
<br />tions at 66 recycling centers across the
<br />nation collected nearly 5 million tons of
<br />recyclable materials in 2013, enabling
<br />discarded items to be regenerated into
<br />newspaper, cardboard, glass and plastic
<br />bottles, tissue, paper towels, and metal
<br />cans. Recycling this quantity of material
<br />saves 15 million tons of carbon dioxide
<br />equivalent (CO2e).
<br />We know that recycling results in a
<br />significant reduction in greenhouse gases
<br />compared to growing or mining those
<br />same commodities for use as virgin raw
<br />materials. Republic’s goal is to
<br />increase the ability to recycle
<br />by adding capacity each year
<br />to our recycling infrastructure.
<br />Through experience, we’ve
<br />learned that communities can
<br />only add or increase recycling when the
<br />infrastructure exists. We have specific
<br />goals for increasing recycling capability
<br />and reducing CO2e by 2018 and are on
<br />target to reach those goals.
<br />Republic recognizes the responsibility
<br />and opportunity we have in managing the
<br />nation’s waste stream to provide a source
<br />of renewable materials and energy to the
<br />economy. As recycling demand continues
<br />to grow, we will be there to meet the need
<br />with state-of-the-art equipment and some
<br />of the industry’s best talent.
<br />Recycling steps
<br />We encourage you to make recycling a
<br />part of your everyday routine. It’s a simple
<br />way to make a lasting difference in the
<br />local environment. Remember these easy
<br />conservation tips at home:
<br />• Try to keep plastic plates and bottles,
<br />glass bottles and aluminum cans as
<br />clean, empty and dry as possible.
<br />• Help conserve water by not letting the
<br />faucet run too long.
<br />• Be efficient and turn off the lights when
<br />you leave a room.
<br />• Shop smart and take reusable shopping
<br />bags with you to the store.
<br />• Purchase home and school supplies
<br />made from recycled materials.
<br />• Purchase items with little or no packag-
<br />ing.
<br />• Please remember not to litter. Help us
<br />keep the community clean and beautiful
<br />for future generations to come!
<br />Have questions? Contact Republic Ser-
<br />vices, cstwincities@republicservices.com
<br />or 952-941-5174.
<br />How about a green holiday?
<br />Did you know
<br />that household
<br />waste in the United
<br />States generally
<br />increases 25 percent
<br />between Thanksgiv-
<br />ing and New Year’s
<br />Day? According to the MPCA (Minnesota
<br />Pollution Control Agency), all the shop-
<br />ping bags, packaging, gift wrap, boxes,
<br />bows and ribbons add up to an additional
<br />one million tons of waste each week! With
<br />a little thought you can reduce, reuse, and
<br />recycle to give the environment a precious
<br />gift and save yourself time, money, and
<br />stress.
<br />Give no-waste gifts
<br />Our most cherished moments often involve
<br />family and friends. This year, give a gift of
<br />time or experience instead of stuff--offer to
<br />babysit, give music lessons, do household
<br />chores or run errands. Or try these ideas:
<br />• Make a “trash-to-treasure” gift from
<br />odds and ends
<br />• Give homemade baked goodies like
<br />cookies, preserves, or bread
<br />• Make a charitable donation in some-
<br />one else’s name
<br />• Give no-waste gifts, such as tickets to
<br />concerts, museums or sporting events,
<br />or give gift certificates
<br />Reduce waste during your celebrations
<br />• Bring reusable tote bags when you’re
<br />doing your holiday shopping
<br />• Use LED lights and put them on a
<br />timer
<br />• Decorate with natural materials like
<br />pine cones, evergreen boughs and gar-
<br />lands made of popcorn and berries
<br />• Get creative with gift wrapping, use
<br />baskets, glass jars or cookie tins and
<br />make your own gift tags
<br />• Use cloth napkins, silverware, glass
<br />or ceramic drinking cups and reusable
<br />plates at holiday parties.
<br />From Republic Services—notes about recycling
<br />from Ramsey Recycles
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