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Recycling

Why recycle? Besides taking up land that could be used for higher uses, landfills present problems of groundwater contamination and other health-related issues. New landfills are costly to construct, and public opposition has resulted in difficulty in siting. North Dakota legislation now restricts such articles as used oil, batteries and appliances from landfills. Landowners are liable when selling farmland. Pollution liability transfers with the land owner, and banks are now requiring evaluation audits.

What do we do with household waste? Recycling is an important alternative that reduces the amount of waste going to landfills and in some cases can reduce the collection and transportation costs of solid waste disposal.

Materials such as aluminum and glass are 100 percent recyclable used over and over in their original form or recycled into other products. Other materials such as plastics can be reprocessed into new parts or products. Plastic milk bottles may become paint brush handles, park benches or fiberfill. Newspapers may be reprocessed as newsprint or insulation or even shredded for animal bedding. Legislation on tires now requires rubber-modified asphalt to be used in highway projects.

To reduce the amount of household waste and the quantity of materials for recycling, become a environmental shopper. Be selective, and buy items that can be recycled. Avoid items with excess packaging and those that harm the environment. To complete the recycling process, also purchase products made from recycled materials. You can make a difference in our environment by making recycling a habit in your household.

If you have further questions or need specific information on what materials can be recycled in your area, please contact your county office of the NDSU Extension Service.

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For More Information Contact your North Dakota County Extension Office of the NDSU Extension Service for additional information or see our main NDSU Web Page for publications and articles on Agriculture, Horticulture, Youth and Family, Business and Community and Food and Nutrition at  http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/