Raleigh recycling goes high tech

As I went on my routine morning jog, I noticed that today was recycling pick-up day in the neighborhood.  Before you get upset and think I don't recycle, I live in an apartment complex that is not on the city's collection route (I have to take my recycling to some bins at the back of the parking lot). 

For more than 20 years Raleigh citizens have placed their recyclable materials on the curb in green bins no bigger than 18 gallons.  The city's recycling program received a modern face lift in July.  Over the next four years, Raleigh will be shifting to a new system in which recyclables will be collected the same way as trash.  In place of the small bins currently used for recycling, residents will get 95-gallon roll-out carts similar to their garbage cans.

Raleigh's new recycling carts.

The new, easier-to-manage bins will hopefully increase recycling participation.  I was amazed to find out that nationally, 77 percent of Americans recycle something in their homes, according to a Harris Poll.  Unfortunately, the number of those who say they recycle nothing at all is higher in the South.

The problem looks worse when comparing age groups.  About three in 10 respondents aged 18 to 30 (these are college-aged kids like myself) don't separate their glass, aluminum and paper from their garbage, compared with 19 percent of seniors aged 62 and older (my mammaw recycles more than you).

Things you can recycle in Raleigh.

So why aren't people my age recycling?  Among the anti-recyclers, one in six said they don't recycle because it's not available in their area; 12 percent felt it takes too much effort. Another 11 percent said recycling is just a bunch of hoopla and doesn't make a difference; 6 percent said they were too busy and 5 percent found recycling too difficult.

I'd like to think that 77 percent of Americans do recycle, but I find it hard to believe.  I would be willing to bet they don't recycle all of the time, and they probably don't recycle as many things as they could. Some people I work with say they recycle, but turn around and throw their plastic water bottle in the office trash can.

We must first change our attitudes and opinions on recycling, then our actions will follow.