A new tool is here to answer your recycling questions
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Recyclepedia, a virtual tool that launched last month, aims to help Miami-Dade residents determine what they can properly recycle and how to do so.
Why it matters: In Miami-Dade, what can be recycled depends on where you live. Each of the county's 34 municipalities has different rules on what's accepted.
- In Key Biscayne, for example, yogurt containers and glass bottles or jars aren't accepted, while they are in Pinecrest and Biscayne Park.
Catch up quick: The tool was created by local nonprofit Dream in Green, which helps families and students across South Florida understand and address ecological challenges.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization held community outreach sessions to identify challenges facing the greater Miami-Dade community.
- One of the recurring issues: Residents were uncertain about what could go into curbside recycling bins.
What they're saying: "We realized there was a disconnect with what people think they know and what's actually acceptable in their [municipality]," executive director Barbara Martinez-Guerrero told Axios recently.
- "A lot of people assumed things went into their recycling here because they had recycled it elsewhere or because it has the [triangle] recycle symbol on it," she said.
Between the lines: Recycling is a business and is driven by market needs.
- Local governments could collect all goods and products marked recyclable, but it's only feasible if there's a buyer for that material to then turn it into something else.
- That's why many condos will only collect cardboard, Martinez-Guerrero explained; there's always a buyer.
How it works: Recyclepedia is an educational platform, complete with interactive games and videos for the whole family.
- Residents can select their municipality using the interactive map to determine what can be recycled and how the items should be placed in the bins.
- The tool also has a section for specialty items (such as batteries and electronics) and specific drop-off locations.
Zoom out: While Martinez-Guerrero acknowledged the arguments against recycling — like the time and financial cost, and the risk of collecting contaminated items — she says it's a "way to put your skin in the game."
- "Recycling is not the solution, but it's one of many and one we can directly implement right now," she said.
- "Going after these big corporations [that contribute most to environmental pollution] takes a really long time. We have to start somewhere and make sure that works well."
What's next: The organization hopes to develop an app so residents can quickly scan or take a picture of a product to determine if it's recyclable.
- After that, Martinez-Guerrero hopes an app feature can someday tell users how their recycling habits impact their carbon footprint.
- "We want to show people how their personal behavior has a larger impact."