Anonymous wrote:My question to the OP and others- does what we send to recycling actually get recycled?
I have a friend out of state who owns a huge environmental clean up company. He doesn't recycle, because he claims 99% of the stuff in blue bins/paper gets thrown away anyhow - that only a small fraction gets bought by recyclers.
Anyone have any insight?
I answered about MoCo back on page two -- about taking a tour. I believe anyone can sign up to take a tour of the recycling facility, incinerator, and/or transfer station.
MoCo absolutely recycles and makes money off of some of the products, although I can't remember which ones. Glass, paper, and yard waste I think. Not sure what happens to plastics. Yard waste is made into compost up at the incineration facility in Dickerson. It lays out in large fields until it's properly composted, bagged, and sold as LeafGro brand.
Actual trash is incinerated at very high temperatures, creating electricity that's also sold.
Montgomery County recycles about 45% of its waste.