Megafest Recycling FAQ
From Megafest
At monarch.festing.org, Festors are presented with a dizzying array of choices when discarding items: compost, numerous recycling bins, and (if all else fails) regular municipal trash.
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Why do we care?
The answer to this important question depends on your personal religious or philosophical beliefs. Christians will remember the Biblical injunction to be stewards of the earth. Science-fiction fans will assume that the planet will be around for a very long time and that every resource counts. Secular humanists may follow the same reasoning. Buddhists and Hindus practice ahimsa and protect the earth's living things by protecting the planet itself. Pagans need to protect Gaia.
What is "single stream" recycling?
In November 2008, the City of Longmont switched its recycling pickup to use a "single stream" system. This means that all recyclables are placed in a single bin for curbside pickup and are sorted (both by machine and by hand) at the recycling depot. This means I no longer have to keep recyclables separate and I can throw paperboard and cardboard in the paper bin in the house. In practice, I choose to keep the food containers separate from the paper in the house and mix them in the garage. Detailed information about recycling in Longmont can be found at Ecocycle. A flier documenting items that may be recycled is taped to the inside of the cabinet door below the sink, facing the trash can and compost bin.
What are "commingled containers"?
The following empty containers should be placed in the bin labeled "Recycling - Commingled Containers" under the overhanging kitchen counter in the dining room.
- Glass
- All plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs with recycling symbols 1 through 7, except for PLA compostable plastic
- Aluminum cans
- Tin (steel) cans
What's with the little green bin under the kitchen sink?
The green bin is temporary storage for composting. The thin gray filter in the lid is an active carbon filter, which seems effective at keeping the smell of decaying plant matter at a minimum. Uncooked plant materials from the kitchen should go into this bin.
What about paper?
Post-consumer paper to be recycled can be placed in the bin next to the sliding glass door on the north wall of the dining room, conveniently located next to the shredder. New as of November 2008, paperboard and cardboard may be placed in this bin as well.
No, seriously, what's the point?
It makes me feel morally superior. What other reason do I need?
