The first hard-to-recycle pickup service launches in the Triangle.
When it comes to recycling, there’s no question about whether items like paper, cardboard, plastic and the like are recyclable. But when it comes to items like plastic bags, styrofoam, clothes, batteries and lightbulbs, confusion abounds over how you should dispose of them. Enter ReCollective, the Triangle’s first hard-to-recycle pickup service (!).
Launched in July by Bryce Brooks and Kevin Younge, two eco-friendly Triangle residents with a passion of simplifying waste and reducing climate change, ReCollective makes recycling easy, accessible and transparent while taking waste off your hands and creating something new out of it.
To boot, the pickup service is super-convenient—and you don’t even have to leave your house to use it. Collection bag kits containing four labeled canvas bags, a separate plastic bag for styrofoam, and a waterproof bag are dropped off at your home before your scheduled pickup day. Simply leave the bags on your porch and a ReCollective crew member will swing by to collect them on pickup day.
Items that cannot be collected through standard recycling typically have low recycling rates and would normally end up slowly decomposing in landfills—sometimes for years. This contributes to environmental and health problems in our local communities like pollution, harsh gas releases and even contamination of our water supply.
“We are passionate about helping bring awareness to the community about the environmental challenges we face,” says Younge. Adds Brooks, “The Triangle is a special area that is so ready for circular community solutions that are affordable, accessible and have a positive impact for everyone here.”
ReCollective takes materials and passes them on to local businesses and organizations that recycle or reuse them in a creative way—think art pieces or products like deck boards. Reduce, reuse, recycle in action!
Getting rid of those nonrecyclables costs about the same price as a Netflix subscription or getting a couple drinks at a local bar. So why not put your money toward something that’ll help better the environment—and the world?! First pickups begin in September, expect collection bag kits in August. Sign-up here.
