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The state of Tennessee is changing the way we think about recycling; at least when it comes to being a visitor. By now most of the local residents are already accustomed to recycling at home and in the workplace. We’re all getting into the habit of sorting our plastics, papers and soda cans out of the regular garbage and into the designated recycling bins. But what about out of town visitors who are making stops at welcome centers along I-75 in Chattanooga? Shouldn’t they be able to recycle? Now they can thanks to the efforts of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the state Tourist Department. Those agencies have gotten together to put out recycling bins at all those rest stops which will go a long way towards improving the state’s overall recycling goals.
“Recycling away from home is one challenge that all recyclers face,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau in a news release. “Visitors to our state will now see receptacles with blue and green lids for recycling.” The rest stops included in the program are located at I-65 near Ardmore, I-81 at Bristol, I-24 at Clarksville, I-26 at Erwin, I-40 at Hartford, I-75 at Jellico, I-65 at Mitchellville and I-40 at Smith County.
Just to give you an indication of how successful a state program can be, since 1990, state workers have managed to recycle over 18,791 tons of mixed office paper. This has resulted in a huge savings to the tune of $564,000 in landfill disposal costs plus $213,000 in recycling revenue.
All of this adds up to the simple fact that recycling matters. But you can go beyond your weekly recycling pickup and make sure the majority of everything you throw out is recycled by contracting with a company like Junk King Chattanooga for your oversized junk removal. Junk King is a local TN business that supports the goals of the state and city by making junk recycling the foundation of their services. Even without an official mandate, Junk King already diverts a large portion of everything they collect away from local landfills and to certified recycling centers. By doing so they can officially help you reduce your own carbon footprint. That means that things like old furniture, refrigerators, stoves, mattresses, tires and e-waste won’t be tossed onto a dump pile to rot away in the sun. Instead, it will be properly dismantled and have all parts put to repurposing.
Why not let Junk King become your new recycling partner? Call them today to find out how they can help clean up your home, backyard or business. Keep Chattanooga clean the Junk King way.
You know about recycling your paper, plastics and soda cans but what about recycling Mother Nature? Yes, even the fallen leaves from the trees can be recycled. Recently the City of Chattanooga’s Department of Public Works announced that they will begin a loose leaf collection from November to February. Here’s the information they provide:
Let’s talk e-waste factoids. The Environmental Protection Agency put out a report in 2007 (the last time they did this) entitled “Management of Select Electronic Products in the United States.” According to the findings, there were 2.25 million tons of “televisions, cell phones and computer products” that were tossed on the scrap heap that year. Of that amount only 18% were actually recycled leaving a whopping 82% dumped into landfills. A vast majority of those e-waste items could end up leaking cadmium, lead and nickel into the top soil and water supply if they are left to rot in a landfill. That’s not a good thing.
Paul Smith, the manager of the Chattanooga Market, recently told the Times Free Press in an interview that Chattanooga has always been a town with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Mr. Smith went on to say that “in 2008 when the economy went down the Chattanooga market really thrive because you had all these talented people who really needed a way to make extra income.” Part of that extra income was generated by the many crafters who turned trash into treasure.
Just as with the rest of the nation, Chattanooga is in the recycling business and provides opportunities for its residents to handle all their recycling needs whether that involves curbside pickup for city residents, hazardous waste removal or computer recycling. The only drawback with these Chattanooga programs is that you have to work on their schedule.
It looks like it’s going to be another scorching summer in Chattanooga. In fact, those in the know are predicting record breaking heat to arrive any time now. This is such an important issue for local residents that the Chattanooga City council put out new guidelines for all city employees who work outdoors to follow. Public works employees are being asked to take more breaks and drink more water while on the job. Nobody seems to be complaining about that directive.
If you were to pick a single item from the grocery shelves and trace it back to its origins you would be amazed at the intense process that goes into delivering even the simplest of products. Take for instance a gallon of milk. You might think all you have to do is trace the milk from the grocery delivery truck back to the processing plant back to the dairy farm. In reality that is only half of the journey of that milk. You need to also include where the feed given to cattle comes from and where that dairy cow started out.