No Mattresses Allowed In The Bin.

Jun 11, 2018 | Recycling Explained

NOT IN THE BIN.

Mattresses are not allowed in your recycling bin, whether its Memory Foam, Gel, Pillow Top, Inner Spring, Water Bed, Air Bed, Latex or a Mattress Topper… none of these can be recycled in the single stream. Please Keep Mattresses Out of the Recycling Bin.

WHY NOT?

Our equipment automatically sorts out single stream items like paper, cardboard, plastic and metal containers…. we do NOT recycle mattresses. Mattresses require specialized processing very different from the single stream process. When they come into Millennium they cause damage to our equipment, waste time trying to pull them out, and can even injure employees when they break or have to be pulled out.

WHAT TO DO WITH A MATTRESS?

In Sioux Falls, we are lucky to have the following mattress recycling options:

• Landfill Recycling Dropoff: Mattresses and box springs accepted for recycling (fee may apply). More details.
• Local Company Dropoff: Support a local company and find a dropoff point through the Bye Bye Mattress program’s search tool.
• Your Waste Hauler: Many waste haulers offer mattress pickup if you ask (fee may apply). If you don’t have a hauler or are in the market for a new one, check out the Sioux Falls hauler directory.
• Manufacturer Programs: Contact your mattress manufacturer and ask about recycling programs. Some manufacturers will take old beds through buy-back or disposal agreements. Check your warranty or visit their website for information.
• Reuse Options: Give your mattress or topper to a friend or family member. Post an ad online. Donate your mattress to a local charity or local organization like homeless shelters or thrift stores. You can even find a reuse option for yourself, like padding under your sleeping bag for camping trips.

WHY NOT JUST DUMP IT?

Each mattress can take up as much as 40 cubic feet in a landfill – which is a big deal when trying to maximize the lifetime and save taxpayer dollars. Mattresses also aren’t very eco-friendly. Their decomposition can lead to the release of hydrogen cyanide, isocyanates, and flame retardants which can harm the environment. If sent to a specialized processor, most valuable materials can be saved. Steel from the springs can be melted down and reused, foam can be made into carpet padding, wood can be turned into wood chips for mulch, and fabric can be reprocessed for things like filters for industrial equipment.

Have something else you’re not sure about? Use our handy Where Do I Take This tool to search the database of local places you can recycle almost anything! If you don’t see what you’re looking for, just ask us! We love to hear your questions and if it’s not listed in our database, your questions help us add it to the list for others to see.

Toys – Not in the Bin!

Jun 1, 2018 | Recycling Explained

Whether you’re a parent, a grandparent or a kid yourself… you probably have giant bins filled to the brim with toys. The amount of toys kids have today has become a little overwhelming, and the issue of getting rid of them is just as big!

NOT in the Bin

Because toys are made up of so many different materials, they are extremely difficult to recycle. What does this mean? You should NEVER put children’s toys in your recycling bin! At Millennium, our process is designed to sort out single stream items. If complex items like toys come in, they damage the equipment or worse, injure our employees.

What to do with Toys?

Consider donating toys to local organizations. Donating to a good cause can be one of the most effective ways to recycle toys. You’ll be preventing them from going into our growing landfill and giving them a second life to make another child smile. There are many, many ways to donate your toys:

• Children’s charities
• Children’s hospitals
• Churches
• Daycares
• Family members & Friends
• Neighbors
• Playgroups
• Thrift shops (Goodwill, Savers, Y’s Buys, etc)
• Libraries

Some charities will even give you a tax-deductible receipt for your  donation, so be sure to ask for one if you want it.

WARNING: For health and ethical reasons, not all toys can be donated. To make sure your toys have the best chance of being reused, here are some guidelines most organizations follow:

• Must be nontoxic
• Should be clean and have all parts
• Should not be broken (especially if they pose a choking hazard)

Alternatively, some toy manufacturers have recycling programs to send toys back for special dismantling and reuse. If not, and your toy does not meet the above donation guidelines, unfortunately the final resort is to trash them.

If you do throw them in the trash, you should also remove any batteries to prevent fires in the garbage truck or at the landfill – Batteries can be recycled at the Sioux Falls Household Hazardous Waste Facility or at SEAM.

Thanks for keeping toys out of the recycling bin and keeping the Sioux Falls Single Stream moving!

Have something else you’re not sure about? Use our handy Where Do I Take This tool to search the database of local places you can recycle almost anything. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, just ask us!

Toys, Trucks, Barbies, Dolls, Teddy Bears, Stuffed Animals, rubber ducks, playset, toy, toy car, toy truck, floaties, pool toys, baby toys, kid toys, plastic toys, bike, biycycle, animal toys, stuffed toys, fabric toys, small toys, big toys

Top 10 Recycling Myths

Apr 18, 2018 | Recycling Explained

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Let’s debunk some of the most common myths we hear at Millennium Recycling.[/vc_column_text][vc_zigzag color=”turquoise” el_border_width=”15″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1524096927580{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

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MYTH #1:
Washing recyclables wastes too much water.

Recyclables only need to be emptied and dry — not spotless. Use a spatula or napkin to scoop out the sticky stuff, and if necessary, give it a quick rinse. The cleaner the better, but please, don’t waste water![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1524087515023{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;background-color: #11a0c4 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

MYTH #2:
Doesn’t it take more energy to transport it all?

Even with transportation, recycling saves energy! But there’s more – recycling also reduces the creation of greenhouse gases, generates US jobs, and saves natural resources. When shopping, look for items made with recycled content to make the biggest energy-saving impacts![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1524087508288{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;background-image: url(https://www.millenniumrecycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/pizza.jpg?id=6816) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

MYTH #3:
Pizza boxes are not recyclable.

Pizza boxes are recyclable, crusts and grease are not! Beware of grease puddles and make sure to remove crusts and scrape cheese off the inside of the box before recycling. If just one half of the box is clean (i.e. the top), rip it off and throw it in the bin.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1524087500815{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;background-color: #77c100 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

MYTH #4:
The recycling arrows mean it’s recyclable, right?

No — not always. Those little arrows refer to the type of plastic the items were originally made from, not how recyclable they are. But most communities can recycle plastic bottles and containers. In Sioux Falls, we accept plastic bottles, tubs and jugs.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1524087494299{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;background-image: url(https://www.millenniumrecycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/caps-2325360_960_720.jpg?id=6886) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

MYTH #5:
If you put the cap on a bottle it isn’t recyclable.

Keep that cap on! We want to recycle all we can — caps included! Just make sure the container is empty before putting the cap back on.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1524087485744{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;background-color: #11a0c4 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

MYTH #6:
Bag Your Recyclables.

Leave your recycling loose and free! Recyclables should never be bagged inside your bin except for shredded paper so it can be pulled out easier. Everything else should be loose in the bin so it can be sorted out by the equipment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1524087478522{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;background-image: url(https://www.millenniumrecycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/leaf-2797173_960_720.jpg?id=6804) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

MYTH #7:
Compostable items can be recycled, right?

No! Composting and recycling happen in different ways. Food waste and compostable serviceware CANNOT be recycled. Compost collection is not readily accessible to most communities, but the City of Sioux Falls offers educational guides and support for backyard composting.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1524087469890{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;background-color: #77c100 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

MYTH #8:
The garbage truck dumped my recycling.

Sometimes haulers use the same trucks for all collection, just with different compartments inside the truck, which can be confusing if you see them dump everything in. Some smaller haulers still do this, so your recycling may in fact be getting the right place, even if they use the same truck. HOWEVER, if you are concerned, PLEASE report the hauler to the City of Sioux Falls so they can investigate.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1524087461522{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;background-image: url(https://www.millenniumrecycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/smartphone-2971064_960_720.jpg?id=6893) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

MYTH #9:
Electronics can just go in my bin, right?

Wrong! Electronics must go through special processes to make them reusable and should not be mixed in the normal recycling bin. If they do make it in the bin, they must be manually pulled out and can easily cause fires or injure employees if broken. Take residential electronics to the HHW facility for free or bring them to SEAM in Sioux Falls[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row ses_sub_title=”

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MYTH #10:
Recycling is hard.

No, it isn’t! Recycling is just as easy as throwing something in the garbage. Follow the Sioux Falls recycling list of what is accepted and place a recycling container next to your trash can. Anything not on the accepted list, keep it out…anything on it, put it in. If you have a question, ask us![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Do you have a question you need answered? Just ask us! We’re here to help – visit us on Facebook or use our contact form.

(Thanks to the Recycling Partnership for some of the myths listed!)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]