Global market for recyclables is down in the dumps
Local governments try to do their best in keeping recyclables out of local landfills, in part because it extends the life of the landfill and saves taxpayers money, and in part because of the tremendous energy savings realized when something like a glass bottle is made into a new glass bottle.
Local waste management resources expensive, finite
Most people don’t give a lot of thought to what happens when they throw something away, but the ecological and economic consequences of the western consumerist lifestyle don’t end when that bag, bottle or box hits the garbage can.
Single stream increases recycling in Swain
Swain County has had a recycling program in place since the 1990s, but a recent change over to a single-stream recycling program has increased participation among residents.