Individuals living throughout Pennsylvania are invited to take part in PRC’s upcoming “Recycling & Waste Reduction” webinar on Wednesday, July 15, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. The online workshop will answer common questions surrounding recycling issues such as curbside collection, hard-to-recycle materials and pharmaceutical disposal.
The Recycling & Waste Reduction webinar is free, but pre-registration is required.
“PRC has expanded its educational efforts to include online learning, and webinars provide a convenient, flexible way to reach people living in all parts of the Commonwealth,” according to PRC Education Specialist Nancy Martin. “While most people have a genuine desire to reduce waste, they’re often surprised by how much there really is to know about the topic in order to effectively manage waste.”
“By taking part in a one-hour webinar, they will learn general guidelines for which materials to leave curbside, which items to toss into the trash and what options are available for disposing of hard-to-recycle and specialty materials,” Martin said. “Participants are always surprised to hear me say the words ‘When in doubt, throw it out,’ but people should not place their K-cups, yogurt containers, takeout clamshells and many other plastic items in a recycling bin.”
Martin points out that rules vary by location, so residents should always check with their local municipalities for specific recycling instructions.
The following materials are accepted by nearly all curbside collection programs in Pennsylvania:
PLASTIC BOTTLES, JARS & JUGS – includes all containers with a screw-top lid and a neck narrower than the body (caps are acceptable if attached to the containers)
STEEL & ALUMINUM CANS – labels are okay but remove all food and lightly rinse (leave metal can lids attached to can)
CORRUGATED CARDBOARD – flatten; labels and tape are okay
MIXED PAPER – includes magazines, junk mail, newspaper, office paper, paper bags and paperboard (cereal boxes)
WHAT ABOUT GLASS BOTTLES, JARS & JUGS? Check with your municipality to see if glass is accepted in your curbside recycling program. If glass is accepted, remember: glass bottles, jars and jugs only. Cut glass, glass bakeware, mirrors, porcelain and ceramics, stemware, window glass, light bulbs and televisions. Visit PRC’s Glass Recycling Collection Program to find glass recycling options in Western PA.
CLICK HERE to learn more about curbside recycling – as well as hard-to-recycle and specialty materials – by taking part in the free July 15 webinar.