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Extended Producer Responsibility

With the uncertainty of the times right now with the virus, I intended to go over information on spring cleaning. I will keep that column until next month. So, how about learning more about recycling and some other outside information about recycling that the general public may not always be aware of such as something that is called EPR. This stands for Extended Producer Responsibility. There are bills in Congress that are addressing those companies who sell us products need to be more responsible for the packaging that is coming along with items we purchase. An example that has been tossed around the most is plastic food containers and how some of them are not recyclable in many areas throughout the United States. You can do a quick Google search for this information and find out the facts. It is a very interesting read. Basically, companies will be responsible for the containers and plastics instead of the consumer who is trying to recycle them. It is a very interesting take on recycling in general.

If you are into learning more about recycling, or at the very least, having your children learn more about it too, there are many websites out there that offer free recycling games for kids to play online. You can check them out by reviewing the picture that is along with this column today. They are very good at teaching kids (any maybe even adults) more about recycling. If you have a child that is in kindergarten through grade 2, you might want to check out Be a 4-H Scientist-Materials in a Green, Clean World with focus on the concept of materials, plastics, reuse, recycle and reduce and the work of scientists and engineers. There are more activities eventually coming for grades 3-5 and 6-8 and this can be found at https://www.4hpolymers.org

Another program to view at home with your family was shown on the PBS news show, Frontline, March 31 called “Plastic Wars,” which goes in depth about how plastic recycling has been presented to any average consumer. It sounds like it will be worth the time and can be found online or on television. It discusses the future of the use of plastics.

The next interesting read surrounds the Right to Repair Legislation that is now in many states and is being reviewed to be placed into law. This is a basic right that if you have a device, particularly if it is electronic, farming equipment and so forth, to fix it yourself. Basically, a company must sell you the correct part and the tools if necessary to repair the item in question. There are similar agreements made with the Auto Right to Repair. This gives consumers the right to repair certain items without voiding the warranties and so forth. This is certainly something that goes along with the three “R’s,” reduce, reuse and recycle — maybe we should add repair and make it four “R’s.”

So, while we are stuck at home, we can certainly continue to learn more about the things we consider an essential part of our life including the three “R’s,” reduce, reuse and recycle. The recycling guide for Lyon County is located on our webpage, lyonco.org and it can be printed out and posted in your home. Please remember that from county to county and sometimes from town to town, recycling may be different. We also have a disposal guide that is located online which can help residents understand where things you no longer want or need can go. Until the pandemic lets us all get back to our normal lives, remember to always call and be aware of what is open and not open to the public. The recycling information for Lyon County is also available via smartphone where there is a recycle information “button.”

For more assistance, please call the Lyon County Environmental Department at 507-532-8210.

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