Select Your Service Area:

Georgia
Colorado
  • Home
  • Pay My Bill/My Account
  • Holiday Schedule
  • Products & Services
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Roll-Off
    • Compactor
    • Yard Waste
    • Bulk Waste
    • Event Waste Solutions
    • LEED Reporting
  • Our Company
    • About Us
    • Press Room
    • Resource Library
    • Service Area
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Community Impact
    • Charitable Giving
    • Events
  • Help & Support
    • Customer Support
    • FAQ
    • Manage My Account
  • Blog

Yard Debris Information

Yard debris collection begins March 1, 2021. Please click here for the latest policies and collection information!
×

Georgia – Labor Day Notice September 7, 2020

In observance of the holiday, our office will closed and we will not be operating. Monday - Friday services will be performed on a one-day delay. Regular service will resume Saturday, September 12, 2020.
×
Current Promo Code:
  • Holiday Schedule
  • Blog
  • Press Room
  • Recycling Group
  • Products &
    Services
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Roll-Off
    • Compactor
    • Yard Waste
    • Bulk Waste
    • Event Waste Solutions
    • LEED Reporting
  • Our
    Company
    • About Us
    • Resource Library
    • Service Area
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Community
    Impact
    • Charitable Giving
    • Events
    • Outreach Programs
  • Residential
    Collection Calendar &
    Waste Wizard
  • Help &
    Support
    • Customer Support
    • FAQ
    • Manage My Account
  • Pay My Bill
    My Account
  • Recycling & Contamination, Miscellaneous
2 min read

Gettin’ Down & Dirty with Diapers

Marketing
written by

Marketing

Share on email
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Removing a Major Contaminant from Recycling Centers
Prepare for our yuckiest, stinkiest article yet! This month’s eNewsletter is not for the faint of heart!

Did you know that thousands of diapers are found at recycling centers across the country every single day? This month we will discuss why diapers are most certainly NOT a Single Stream recyclable item, and give you some alternative options for diapers if you find yourself guilty of tossing these into the recycle bin.

Above all, we need your help spreading the word about diapers. Even if you aren’t guilty of improperly disposing these items, but you know someone who is putting them in with their recycling, please, forward them this article or simply let them know:

“As inconvenient as it is: Diapers (dirty OR clean) are just NOT Single Stream Recyclable.”

Why & What You Can Do!

cloth-diapers

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as an eco-friendly single-use diaper; it is impossible to reclaim the paper used to make them and currently, there are no readily available or accessible technologies to recycle the materials used to manufacture diapers.

There are alternatives to single-use, disposable diapers of course. Compostable diapers are available (for a slightly higher cost), and the good ol’ cloth diapers are always an option. Nevertheless, many people find washing them while raising an infant to be too much trouble.

There are also ways to compost certain parts of the filling in single-use, disposable diapers but the process is a messy one. This option may sound gross to some, but itis possible and practical. If you are interested, just bear in mind that you will need a backyard compost pile with material (other than diaper filling) already breaking down for this method to be effective. Be sure to do your research with this technique as there are many steps that must be taken to do it correctly. The best place to start is with an internet search for “composting diapers at home”.

Although these methods are all options, the vast majority of diapers are tossed in with the trash, and at this point in time- that’s the only option. Don’t fall into the “wishful recycling” trap and toss your diapers into the recycling “just in case”.

Improperly disposing of contaminants (like diapers) in your recycling causes problems at recycling processing facilities like The American Recycling Center. Correctly recycled materials (like paper, plastics etc.) become contaminated and their quality becomes damaged, making them more difficult or impossible to be remade into new products.

at-home-diaper-composting-resized

There are many reclaiming and recycling techniques for diapers currently being formulated, but at this time they are not yet fully developed or widely accessible. For now, the best place for single use, disposable diapers is in the garbage.

We understand that no one wants stinky diapers hanging around in the house more than a couple of days but it is important to remind you that your recycling bin/cart is to be used solely for the collection of accepted recyclables and nothing else.

Placing a trash-filled recycling bin/cart out to be picked up simply because you want to get rid of those diapers a day earlier is an unacceptable practice.

Remember: Disposable Diapers remain Trash, NOT Recycling. Pass it on.

Related Articles

Loading...

Inconveniencing Convenient

April 30, 2011 - 01:10pm

The Rundown on Plastic #6 (Styrofoam)

May 31, 2011 - 08:00pm

What to do with Plastic Bags

June 30, 2011 - 09:25am

Products & Services

  • Residential Services
  • Commercial Services
  • Roll-Off Services
  • Compactor Services
  • Yard Waste
  • Bulk Waste
  • Event Waste Solutions
  • Commercial Cleaning and Waste Solutions
  • LEED Reporting

Sign Up for Service

  • Residential – Sign Up
  • Commercial – Request a Quote
  • Reserve a Dumpster
  • Compactor – Request a Quote

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

  • FAQ
(703) 368-0500(678) 720-0500(303) 288-2100
Business Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:00am – 4:30pm local time

  • Pay-My-Bill
  • Holiday Service Schedule

OUR COMPANY

  • About Us
  • Service Areas
  • Careers
  • Events
  • Media
  • Blog

Follow Us

©2021 American Disposal Services Incorporated | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
Branding & Web Development by TriVision

    Search