For the first time, New Yorkers will be able to recycle all rigid plastics, including toys, hangers, shampoo bottles, coffee cups and food containers. According to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, ‘Starting today, if it’s a rigid plastic – any rigid plastic – recycle it. There is no more worrying about confusing numbers on the bottom of the container. This means that 50,000 tons of plastics that we were sending to landfills every year will now be recycled and it will save taxpayers almost $600,000 in export costs each year.’
Robert Kelman, president of SIMS North America Metals, commented, ‘With the expansion of plastics recycling we are making the New York City curb side programme as inclusive as any in the nation. This is exactly the type of advance that was envisioned when we entered into this long term collaboration with the city, and we remain hopeful that increasing the types of plastics recycled will lead to higher recycling rates for metal, paper and other recyclables.’
Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty noted that the new move will boost environmental wellness of the City, as well as the overall wellbeing of its residents. ‘New York City residents and the environment will benefit with our expanded plastics recycling programme,’ he said. ‘With many more plastics now going into the recycling bin as opposed to the trash can, residents won’t have to think twice about what can and cannot be recycled. He declared, ‘Add all your rigid plastics to your metal, plastic and glass recycling bin, and we will pick it up. We fully support this initiative, and look forward to expanding our growing recycling programmes in the future.’
As it takes 70% less energy to make plastic from recycled plastics rather than from raw materials, the officials hailed the new initiative as the system that is going to help New York City further reduce its carbon footprint. Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway said, ‘Today’s announcement represents the largest expansion of our city’s recycling efforts in 25 years. We were able to take this step because of the major commitment we made to recycling as part of the City’s Solid Waste Management Plan in 2006.’
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