When in Doubt, Throw it Out

The Ocracoke Convenience Site, a.k.a. the Dump, which greets visitors as they enter the north end of the village, accepts household trash, construction/demolition trash, yard debris, electronics trash, used oil, and recyclables. 

It can be confusing what is recyclable and what isn't. 

Luckily, our dump manager, Dave Johnson, posts regular updates on the dump's Facebook page; we are sharing the recent Recycling Update, with some editorial observations:

The New Co-Mingle Recycling container has arrived!

ACCEPTED:

Plastics: Empty; Only Bottles and Jugs #1 & #2 (Seriously, that's it!)

Paper: Clean & Dry; Only Sheet Paper (paper bags, packing paper, printer paper, notebook paper), Newspaper, and Junk Mail

Metal Cans: Empty; Soda Cans, Beer Cans, Food Cans

NOT ACCEPTED: 

Plastics: Anything not listed above as ACCEPTED

Paper: Anything not listed above as ACCEPTED

Metal Cans: Anything not listed above as ACCEPTED

GLASS: Glass is still separated

CORRUGATED CARDBOARD: Must be Clean & Dry;Full Print Labeling is accepted  

NOT RECYCLABLE: Waxed cardboard, packing materials (ie. styrofoam, plastic, paper), tubes or corner folds, or paperboard* (e.g., cereal boxes) products.

*It's confusing and relatively NEW that we can't recycle paperboard. Paperboard is ubiquitous, but it can be composted and it's great for kid crafts, so it's always better than plastic. Plastic, even if it's recyclable, is a scourge upon the earth forever and ever. 

People are often skeptical about whether or not Ocracoke's dump actually recycles the recyclables. Let's put that conspiracy theory to rest. Ocracoke's recyclable materials get taken to Eastern Carolina Vocational Center. Anything that ECVC can't recycle goes to a landfill. 

Ocracoke's trash goes to a landfill in Bertie County. It is helpful to recycle and the right thing to do, but you gotta do it right.

The New Mantra: "When in Doubt, Throw it Out"

It's better to add something to the landfill than to engage in what Dave calls "aspirational recycling" thereby potentially contaminating an entire load of otherwise useful materials. 

Really, if you want to save the planet, remember that "Recycle" is the third R after "Reduce" and "Reuse." 

Home composting is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint of waste. You can also buy less. Reuse stuff. Make do. Wear it out. Upcycle.