Dive Brief:
- Collecting two extra pounds of recyclables per household each week is easier than it may seem, according to Albuquerque, NM’s Solid Waste Management Department. The department’s “Two More Pounds” campaign is seeking to increase contributions of recyclables from residents, with a goal of 3,200 tons total each week.
- The city’s new recycling campaign is meant to encourage recycling habits among residents, while also helping to decrease the amount of waste placed in landfills.
- While residents are great at recycling kitchen items, the campaign encourages families to look in their bathrooms and laundry rooms for additional recyclable materials, including shampoo bottles, hand soap containers, or dryer sheet boxes.
Dive Insight:
While Albuquerque officials say the city residents already do a good job of recycling, this new campaign allows for improvement while saving taxpayer money in the process.
"Numbers are up from previous years so keep doing what you're doing, we appreciate that. But there's at least two more pounds out there that we can bring forward," said Bobby Sisneros of the Albuquerque Solid Waste Management Department.
Residents are encouraged to deposit cardboard, paper, aluminum cans and pans in their recycling bins, but glass bottles and jars must be dropped off at a recycling center.
