Green Living - Recycling

Did you know that only about 2% of Clark County residents recycle? It is unfortunate that many people do not recycle, not because they don't want to, but because they don't understand how to get started. We are lucky in our city to have a recycling option that is both convenient and free--curbside! Here is how! Republic Services is a garbage company that picks up curbside recycling every other week. All that is required is to call their number (702-735-5151) and request the bins. (If this is something you are interested in doing, you may want to call right away. It can take from 6 to 8 weeks for the bins to arrive, though they sometimes come much faster.) Unfortunately, the bins are usually dropped off in front of the house with no notification, knock on the door, or instructions. To find out which zone you are in, call the above number. When the recording begins, press 3 to speak with an associate about curbside recycling. Give the person your address and he/she will tell you your zone. Then, visit www.republicservicesvegas.com, click on Services, Recycling Services, and then the link for the 2009 schedule.

Recycling is simple. Follow these four basic guidelines:

• Red Basket: Aluminum cans, tin cans and plastic bottles. Empty all cans and plastic bottles. Aluminum cans can be crushed and tin cans should be rinsed out. Remove all lids from all plastic soda bottles and milk jugs. Make sure your plastics are recyclable by looking for the recycling symbols that have a 1 or 2 inside the triangle.

• White Basket: Newspapers, telephone books, and magazines. Please remove all strings and rubber bands.

• Blue Basket: Glass bottles. Please rinse bottles. Remove caps. Do not break glass. IMPORTANT: Keep all glass jars and bottles separate from other recyclables. DO NOT include mirrors, plate glass, chinaware or ceramics.

• Corrugated Cardboard: Flatten cardboard boxes and place them next to the recycling baskets

If you live in an apartment complex, there are still recycling options. Apartment complexes can obtain their own recycling bins (similar to a regular garbage dumpster) if it is 1) requested by the apartment residences and 2) the apartment complex management agrees to add it to the property. If your complex does not offer this service, talk to other residents and bombard the management with requests! They might approve of the new bin. If not, you can take your bags of recyclable material directly to the Republic Services Henderson location at 560 Cape Horn Drive (off Eastgate between Sunset & Warm Springs) or to the parking lots of several stores, including the Neighborhood Market Wal-Mart, Super Center Wal-Mart, Goodwill, and the Galleria Mall. Happy recycling!

Thank you Anjalique for presenting and preparing this!