The importance of recycling in SC, green holiday tips, and upcoming events in this issue of Curb Talk.

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December 2016

A Message from Jane

Each year America Recycles Day, now in the history books for 2016, inspires us to reassess why and how best to improve recycling in South Carolina. We are thankful for South Carolina’s Department of Commerce and DHEC’s Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling, which help us do just that. This issue of Curb Talk is dedicated to the information and motivation they provide us all.

Jane Hiller
Education Director, Sonoco Recycling

In This Issue

The Importance of Recycling in SC
Green Holiday Tips
Items Needed
Upcoming Events

The Importance of Recycling in South Carolina

SC DHEC’s annual recycling reports show us what is being recycled, disposed of and incinerated across the state, and how each county is progressing toward meeting state recycling and disposal goals.

Overall, as a state, we are still far from our goal of recycling 40% of our waste by the year 2020.

Why does this matter? Our State Recycling website lists the Top 10 Reasons to Recycle. The first three reasons are based on a 2014 Economic Impact Study commissioned by SC DHEC, SC Department of Commerce and other partners which shows that Recycling is Big Business in South Carolina.

When we recycle at home, school, work and on the go, we support:

520 companies in South Carolina
More than 22,000 direct jobs (a 44% increase from 2006);
$2.7 billion in annual labor income (up 80% from 2006); and
$329 million in state and local taxes each year.

Both agencies believe that these numbers could be easily tripled by getting every SC citizen to recycle right (following the rules where they live)!

Recycling also positively impacts our environment by:

conserving natural resources including energy
reducing waste and litter and therefore the need for more landfills
conserving natural resources by turning waste into raw materials

GREEN Holiday Tips

Americans make more trash during the holidays than any other time of year – which means December is a great time to change your waste habits! Consider adopting the following new routines:

Buy items grown or made locally
Make or buy greeting cards made from recycled paper
Avoid “fad” gifts; choose gifts that will be used and appreciated for a long time
Consider giving plants that will improve air quality
Wrap gifts in another gift (think towels and cloth ribbons)
Buy foods in compostable or recyclable packaging
Avoid disposable plates, cups, flatware, napkins, table covers (unless they are compostable)

Items Needed by Educators

Teachers love to teach students ways to repurpose. Here is a list of items that teachers are requesting for classroom projects:

large plastic coffee lids
plastic pull tabs from cartons
corks
out-of-date picture calendars
post-holiday poinsettias

Contact jane.hiller@sonoco.com if you have items to donate.

UPCOMING EVENTS

December is Arbor Month

December is ARBOR MONTH! Please celebrate by planting trees as part of an effort to plant 7.8 billion trees around the world--one for every person on Earth--by Earth Day’s 50th anniversary in 2020. Learn more about this year’s events, how you can help, and how to get your whole community involved.

LEARN MORE

Other December Events

December 3
City of Columbia Rain Barrel Workshop at Riverfront Park – part of the Mayor’s initiative to give away 1,000 free barrels!
Contact: jdsatterthwaite@columbiasc.net

December 3
Project Learning Tree "Climate Change" Workshop at Congaree National Park
Contact: mschnabel@scfc.gov

December 9
Keep the Midlands Beautiful’s fun and festive Gala for a Greener Midlands.
This event honors local sustainability leaders and raises funds for recycling, litter prevention and beautification projects.
Learn more.

December 19-20
“Adopt-A-Stream” Coordinator Training
Contact: Chenille Williams, WilliamsC3@rcgov.us

December 26- Jan 12
Recycle your Christmas tree at the Grinding of the Greens drop off days.
Learn more.

January Events

January 7
City of Cayce Electronic Recycling
Time: 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Contact: RVandergeest@lex-co.com

January 14
Get free mulch at the Grinding of the Greens mulch giveaway.
Learn more.

January 19
Blue Thumb Landscaping Conference for Lawn Care Professionals
Contact: Chenille Williams, WilliamsC3@rcgov.us

Sonoco Recycling is a proud member of the Sonoco Family, a global provider of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging and packaging supply chain services.