Quiz

(function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(d.getElementById(id))return;js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src='https://embed.playbuzz.com/sdk.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}(document,'script','playbuzz-sdk'));

With spring comes blooming flowers, piles of pollen, and hours of spring cleaning. But before we can get rid of the enumerated stacks of magazines and old clothes in our closets, we should know how to properly dispose of our stuff. Although recycling is a common practice, people often have questions about the process. Who started city-wide recycling? What cannot be recycled? How much of my clutter actually gets recycled?

Fear not, fellow Lakelandian. We had these same questions, so we decided to do a little research. Here is a comprehensive guide to recycling in Lakeland.

The Basics of Recycling

❓ When should I recycle?
In LAL, recycling is picked up weekly depending on what region of the city you live in.

🗑️ Who picks up my recycling?
If your recycling bin is black, you are serviced by Polk County Solid Waste and Recycling.

Facts you may not know

💭 Wish cycling (v.)– when residents recycle materials that they believe to be or wish was recyclable material.

#️⃣ How much gets recycled in LAL?
On average, the city collects anywhere between 650 to 720 tons of recycled material per month. That is over 4 million lbs, the equivalent of 400 elephants.

♻️ What can be recycled?
Plastic bottles can be recycled, including their plastic caps. Paper products like newspapers, envelopes, magazines, and cardboard packaging can be recycled. See the full list here.

🚫 What can NOT be recycled?
Soiled paper, clothing, and batteries are not considered recyclable materials. Single-use plastic like shopping bags is also not permitted. These clog recycling machines, causing contamination.

🏬 Where can I take single-use plastic?
You can take your plastic shopping bags to Publix. There are recycling bins outside of all their retail locations. To date, Publix has collected over 6.2 billion plastic bags.

🌎 What does that do to the planet?
Contamination can also be caused by food waste left on recyclable containers. When a batch of recycling is considered contaminated by a non-recyclable material, the entire amount is deemed unusable and thrown away. So all of the material that was recycled properly is placed into a landfill.

📲 How can you help?
Give your thoughts on this digital survey. The City of Lakeland wants to know what you think about how the city handles recycling. The Citizen’s Perspective Solid Waste Solutions Forum will be available until the end of March.

– LALtoday team (Kristin, Jessica, Kaylee, Mackenzie + Cassie)