Recycling Pick Up in Palm Beach County – Where Does It Go?

Who knew two extra bins could make such a difference? Between October of 2016 and September of 2017, residents of Palm Beach County recycled about 160 million pounds of waste that would otherwise have been diverted to landfills, all of which was sorted into blue and yellow bins for recycling pick up through the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County. Where does it all go, though? Is recycling an option when you don’t use SWA services?

Why Recycling Pick Up Matters

When it comes to recycling pick up and why it matters, some answers are obvious. An aluminum can, for instance, contains mined resources like bauxite, which must be continually mined when cans and other products end up in the landfill. Paper pulp is derived from trees, which must be cut down and harvested to create new paper. Recycling things like aluminum cans and paper eliminates the need for mining and harvesting because these products can be replenished by existing resources through the recycling process. 

Another consideration is landfill space, which most people never think about until the existing area landfill reaches peak capacity. The Palm Beach County landfill was expected to reach capacity by 2013, but effective and efficient recycling services have pushed that date back to 2050.

Since recycling pick up in Palm Beach County utilizes separate bins, paper products collected are less often contaminated by plastic, food stains and oils. The quality of recycled paper is higher and so are the product yields. Plastic bottles, aluminum cans, glass and drink cartons all go in a separate bin to minimize contamination, and the efforts are paying off in spades.

Still, there are some things the Solid Waste Authority recycling center does not process, and film plastic is near the top of the list. SWA estimates about 14 million pieces of film plastic make their way to processing each year, where they become lodged in machinery and bring processing to a halt. Grocery giant Publix has stepped in to relieve the burden on SWA by offering on-site bins for plastic bags and foam, but residents must bring these products to their local store; there is no recycling pick up through SWA.

Bulk Item and Nontraditional Recycling Pick Up 

You care about the environment and about leaving a cleaner, healthier planet for future generations. What do you do when you have a large project to manage and no clear path to recycle most of it? 

Minimizing your landfill impact and overall environmental impact on a day-to-day basis is relatively simple, but when you’re in the middle of a big job like estate management, rental cleanouts or even a hoarding cleanup, it’s not always so easy. This is where professional junk removal services can bridge the gap.

Most large-scale waste management projects include a vast array of items, from unwanted clothing and furniture to chemical waste and assorted personal items. Getting these things out of the property is a big enough challenge; trying to sort them into piles for recycling introduces an entirely new set of complications. Bulk item pickup through SWA is a possibility, but things like furniture are not recycled. It’s also important to remember that many items you no longer want or need are still usable, even if they’re no longer suited to your needs. Donating these items keeps them out of landfills and puts them in the hands of people who need them, but you’re on the hook for the hauling and delivery in most cases. 

Your time is valuable, especially if you’re working against a deadline. Hauling items to donation and recycling facilities yourself may seem like the quickest and most direct path, but it pays to consider the hidden costs of DIY recycling and donation drop-off. If you don’t have access to a large enough vehicle, for instance, you’ll immediately incur rental, insurance and administrative expenses. Fuel costs alone can be staggering, especially if you have to make several trips to multiple facilities. This introduces another environmental concern, as smaller-capacity vehicles require more trips, which equals more emissions.

Our philosophy at Jiffy Junk is centered around providing the best private hauling service with the smallest possible environmental impact. We’ll come to your home or place of business to remove anything you no longer want or need, all with the aim of keeping it out of landfills. We’ll separate all usable items for transport to local donation centers, making sure they benefit the community rather than clogging a landfill. Our trained and experienced techs will also do all the work of sorting everything we remove from your property, making sure all recyclable items are taken to the appropriate facilities.

Private Recycling Pick Up in Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County SWA is leading the charge in municipal recycling, but there are times when private recycling pick up is the best option, especially for larger projects. Coordinating the cleanup after a remodeling project, purging before a big move or similar project require more than just stacking items at the curb and hoping for the best. We work hard to manage every aspect of waste removal and management, so you can focus on the aspects of your project only you can manage. Deadlines are easier to meet and so are recycling and repurposing goals. Our white-glove removal services are built around a deep dedication to environmental responsibility, giving you one less thing to worry about along the way.

No matter the size or scope of your cleaning project, we’ll help you keep your footprint small and your conscience clear. Best of all, our technicians do all the heavy lifting and manual labor, even uninstalling appliances and sweeping up behind ourselves to leave your space clean, clear and ready for whatever comes next. Don’t let an overwhelming cleanup project challenge your resolve to live a greener, more ecologically responsible life. Together, we can make quick work of a big job with an ethical and efficient approach to waste management and recycling.