The State of Recycling in North Carolina

Recycling containers on suburban streets, multiple bins lined up in front of the local grocery store for all manner of recyclable materials, and reminders in office buildings and shops to dispose of waste responsibly: these days, North Carolina is home to a statewide initiative dedicated to habitual sustainability. Even in just the last few years, it’s seen a significant improvement in the overall environmental impact of its citizens.
But in a culture that’s generally enamored with social responsibility, connectivity, and going green in whatever ways possible, it’s easy to lose sight of how far we’ve come versus what we could be doing better, or what we hope to accomplish yet. But here at Carolina Fibre, we believe in giving credit where it’s due! So, where does North Carolina stand in sustainability efforts?
According to a recent study from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, the state as a whole saw a 5% increase this year in the recycling of co-mingled materials. Thanks to some great outreach efforts and that green mindset we mentioned, it seems that our greater community has pulled ahead in terms of general mindfulness and recycling efforts in daily routines.
And while Wake County did experience a minute decline in its recycling rates last year, that isn’t to say that it lags behind the rest or that its residents aren’t doing their part. In fact, when the county rolled out new recycling containers for households approximately a decade ago, the recycling program received a substantial boost that has remained fairly level since then. The city of Raleigh was even counted among the greenest cities in the country last year!
If you want to contribute to North Carolina’s success, here are a few steps you can take to live a little greener:

• Search your county and town websites to find the recycling centers closest to you.
• Implement a sorting system at home to make it even easier to separate materials that need to be picked up by a waste management service from those that can be recycled or repurposed.
• Shop for recycled products in your local stores.
• Encourage your office mates to use their supplies wisely, and reuse what they can.

With the services and facilities offered by Carolina Fibre, it’s easier than ever for businesses as well as individuals to jump on board with green efforts in North Carolina. Contact us today if you’re ready to get started on your company’s commercial recycling plan!