Coming to Snoqualmie’s Railroad Days, the future of recycling

Published 8:30 am Friday, August 5, 2016

A monthly column about the world of recycling, diversion and sustainability seen through the eyes of Michelle Metzler, Waste Management, Public Education and Outreach

At Waste Management, we do everything we can to make recycling simple. That said, when you’re staring at a funky takeout container, discovering a bag of dead batteries or are ready to retire an old appliance, recycling can suddenly seem complicated.

That’s OK – like most of us, you’re probably due for a recycling refresher. And we have just the team for the job.

At Snoqualmie Railroad Days, look for the Waste Management booth. It’s staffed by a team equipped with the most up-to-the-minute information about recycling in our community, the Recycle Corps.

The Recycle Corps is a summer internship program for college students created by Waste Management and designed to take recycling to the next level in our community.

It’s a tough, complicated job. Interns work with businesses and the public to help people master the recycling basics that make the biggest difference:

1. Recycle all empty bottles, cans and paper;

2. Keep food and liquids out of recycling; and

3. Keep plastic bags out of the recycling container.

Through one-on-one conversations on doorsteps and at community events and businesses, Recycle Corps interns help Waste Management customers set up clear and convenient systems for reducing waste. They even go door-to-door at apartment complexes and condos to troubleshoot sorting systems and provide “how to” information and signage.

With team members fluent in Spanish, Mandarin, Greek and American Sign Language, the interns help to bridge the language gaps that can result in contamination. When people throw food, dirty diapers and garbage into their recycling carts, whole containers and truckloads of recyclable materials have to go to the landfill, not the recycling center, that’s contamination.

Recycle Corps has been a big success for Waste Management and the environment. Since 2014, nearly 50 percent of Recycle Corps team alumni have begun working as professionals in the industry for private companies, the public sector, and consulting firms. They’ve made a long-lasting impact on recycling habits in our community.

Recognizing these successes, the Solid Waste Association of North America honored Waste Management’s Recycle Corps program with the Gold Excellence Award in 2015, one of the highest honors in the industry.

This year’s interns come from top schools in Washington, California and Florida.

The next generation of recycling depends not only on innovation and new technologies, but also on improving our community’s understanding and commitment to recycling. It needs leaders who are mastering the art and science of changing behavior for the better. Through Recycle Corps, we are creating those leaders.

Be sure to bring your recycling questions to the Waste Management booth at Railroad Days . It’s your opportunity to talk one-on-one with young leaders who are working to protect the planet and improve sustainability, right here in Snoqualmie.

If you ever have questions about reducing waste or recycling, send email to recyclenw@wm.com or call (425) 825-2013.