Let's talk recycling during a pandemic

As someone who just started getting serious about #recycling, it was pretty devastating to hear that the facility I use on a regular bi-weekly/monthly basis was forced to close while in the midst of #COVID-19. It was in no way a bad decision - it was necessary for workers and participants but where does that leave us whose apartments don't actually recycle or when the city claims it doesn't accept glass as a part of its "recycling" program? It led me to try out a new option - Your Dekalb Farmers Market.

A small amount of backstory before I move forward - the facility I use is called the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials located in Grant Park - #Atlanta, GA. It's a wonderful facility filled with helpful people and a place to recycle so many former goods, like cooking oils, electronics, scraps, glass, plastic 1-7 and so much more. It's like a recyclers dream come true. From going to a place that recycles almost every and anything to a facility where only glass, plastic #2, paper, steel cans, aluminum cans and some cardboard are accepted is pretty jarring. With my loaded up trunk filled with so many materials not accepted, I felt a little defeated being only able to recycle a small amount of the items I had.

This article is not meant to sound like I am complaining (although, it does a bit, doesn't it?) It's more of an eye-opening experience. Most people don't even have the "farmers market" option and yet, in the heart of Atlanta, we have both readily available to us. So what's my point? My point is that a resource like #CHaRM or even the farmers market shouldn't be taken for granted. As I don't have CHaRM readily available to me right now, I need to be conscious of the types of items i'm buying/what they come in and if I am to buy items that the farmers market doesn't accept, I will need to hold on to those until the other facility opens up.

What recycling options do you have near you? Do you live in the Atlanta area and know of a better recycling facility? Tips/tricks of ways to be more cognizant of the types of containers items come in? Open to any and all recommendations!