Starting small makes a big impact

The argument against recycling isn’t new, but more and more claims about its merit—or lack thereof—continue to surface as the pollution crisis in the United States understandably has people asking, “What’s the point?”

A great part of my job at Recycling Today is getting to travel to industry events and meet the people who know the value of recycling and work hard to make the process more efficient and sustainable.

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Carolina Recycling Association’s 35th Annual Conference & Trade Show in Wilmington, North Carolina. While some articles continue to tout the “myth” of recycling, I personally met a number of folks whose efforts to promote recycling have made a real and notable impact in their communities.

For example, I attended a session featuring a presentation from Megan Tabb of Synergy Electronics Recycling, a Madison, North Carolina-based end-of-life electronics recycler that processes plastic from discarded devices and uses the material to create plastic composite board for various building applications.

“We can’t solve the pollution crisis overnight, but our local efforts can make a big difference.”

On a more local level, I also heard from engineer Mike Brinchek of Raleigh, North Carolina-based engineering firm Smith Gardner, who discussed the impact of shrinking landfill capacity on rural communities, as well as Mark Bivins, solid waste manager for Lincoln County, North Carolina, who talked about his experience purchasing compactors for the county’s eight convenience sites.

I can’t forget to mention all the attendees representing colleges and universities across the Carolinas who spent their evenings sorting trash and recyclables generated at the Wilmington Convention Center during the event.

Sure, maybe it’s hard to see the point of those efforts when imagining the overwhelming pollution in our oceans and waterways, for example. But those recently purchased compactors in Lincoln County have resulted in fewer truck trips, reducing hauling fees and emissions, as well as better involvement from residents in recycling, according to Bivins. It’s a small-scale example by all accounts, but its impact is huge—and real.

As we see results from similar community recycling and sustainability efforts across the U.S., maybe we can help naysayers reframe the question from “What’s the point?” to “How can I help?”

We can’t solve the pollution crisis overnight, but our local efforts can make a big difference.