In some countries, failing to separate plastics, glass, tins and compost can land you a fine.
In Bermuda, the rules are more relaxed, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important to get it right.
Taking the lead on recycling at home helps reduce waste, protect the environment and keep our island clean.
The Waste Management Section of the Ministry of Public Works & Environment explains why it should matter to all of us.
Q: Why does recycling matter for a small island like Bermuda?
A: Recycling benefits us all and should always matter regardless of the size of the community. Making new cans from the recycling of materials like steel/tin cans and aluminium cans consumes 90 per cent less energy and produces far less overall waste than making cans from virgin materials.
For example, the mining of bauxite, the raw material from which aluminium is produced, generates huge amounts of waste and causes extensive environmental damage in the communities in which it is extracted. Eight tonnes of bauxite must be mined to extract 1 tonne of aluminium leaving behind hillsides of mine-waste as an environmental burden in countries rich in bauxite ore.
Also, as an added benefit, in Bermuda, recycling non-burnable items like TAG (tin cans, aluminium cans and glass bottles) helps the Tynes Bay Waste to Energy Facility produce energy from waste with greater efficiency and reduces the damage these materials can cause to the system which leads to expensive maintenance and repairs.
Q: What happens to our recycling once it leaves the curb?
A: Bermuda’s TAG recycling is taken to the Material Recovery Facility which is located at the Government Quarry in Hamilton Parish. From there it is separated by an automated system into tin bales, aluminium bales and crushed glass.
Steel and aluminium bales are sent to the USA for conversion into sheet metal and from that into new cans. Glass is crushed and reused here in Bermuda as a valuable drainage medium, replacing the need to purchase gravel in construction projects. Crushed glass also played a significant role in the refurbishment of the Five Forts Golf Club in St George’s.
Q: Why is it important to separate glass and tin from regular household waste?
A: It is important to separate out tin cans, aluminium cans and glass bottles for recycling because these items do not burn and detract from the Tynes Bay Waste to Energy Facility’s ability to produce energy efficiently from waste. In addition, these items are readily recyclable or reusable on-island.
Q: What are some common mistakes people make when putting out their recycling?
A: One of the most common mistakes people in Bermuda make when putting out their recycling is to include plastic items. Bermuda does not recycle plastics, instead these items, because they are petroleum based, are readily converted into energy at the Tynes Bay Waste to Energy Facility.
Q: How can households make recycling easier for themselves day to day?
A: Recycling is simple if you make small changes to the way you do things in your kitchen. As soon as you finish with a can or bottle simply rinse it, turn it upside down in your sink to drain for a few minutes and then pop it into a blue bag. Once every two weeks, take your blue bag to the curb for collection on Thursday in the west and Friday in the east. Many grocers will pack your items into a blue bag which you can use for your recyclables. If you need larger blue bags, these can be found in your grocery store right next to the regular waste bags.
Q: Do small, individual efforts really make a difference in the bigger picture?
A: Yes! When it comes to protecting the environment, success is often built on consistent, incremental actions rather than grand, one-time efforts. It underscores the importance of persistence, patience and the value of each step we take, no matter how small it may seem in the moment.
Q: What would you say to people who feel recycling is “too much hassle”?
A: Recycling in Bermuda is easy! Bermuda accepts tin cans, aluminium cans and glass jars – just rinse and put all three of these materials directly into a blue recycling bag and place out for collection. The Government’s state-of-the-art MRF is equipped with an automated system that removes the bag and separates out the recyclables, so you don’t have to.
Recycling benefits us in Bermuda by removing three non-burnable items from the Tynes Bay Waste to Energy Facility’s burn stream and benefits the planet by allowing tin and aluminium to be used endlessly as the mobius loop indicates. Glass is crushed and reused here in Bermuda as a valuable drainage medium and was key in the repair of the retaining wall at Devon Springs Road where a 30-foot high section of the road was collapsing.
Bermuda’s tin and aluminium, after shipping to the US, are recycled into new products that are endlessly recycled, a process that can save a significant amount of energy.
Q: How can schools or children get involved in encouraging recycling habits at home?
A: Bermuda is very fortunate to have many environmentally focused NGOs that work across sectors including at schools to encourage recycling. For example, Keep Bermuda Beautiful’s recent Race To Recycle encouraged students to collect as much recycling as possible to win prizes. This initiative boosted Bermuda’s recycling in the months of May and June by 12,896 pounds. Many schools have implemented “waste-free lunch” programmes to encourage parents and students to focus on small changes that have a large impact. Bermuda’s Eco-Schools programme helps schools to participate in ten green pathways, one of which is specific to waste and litter minimisation such as implementing the three Rs. Eco-School initiatives provide teachers with the ability to fit activities in with the existing curriculum.
Q: What’s one thing you wish every Bermudian household would do when it comes to recycling?
A: Participate!
