The Minneapolis Star Tribune has a fascinating story (“A whiff of change”) about an effort underway to analyze trash to learn more about residents’ recycling habits. Workers with Minnesota Green Corps will spend a year studying trash from 100 houses to determine what items are being recycled and where there are opportunities for improvement.
After two weeks of sorting through trash, the findings showed that aluminum cans are the most consistently recycled material with hardly any aluminum being thrown away. Recyclable paper, on the other hand, accounted for about 12% of trash.
Minnesota consistently ranks among the nation’s recycling leaders, but recycling rates have remained the same for nearly a decade. Organizers hope this project will help rejuvenate its recycling efforts.
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