The Charlotte Jewish News- October 2025- Page 16
Bal Tashchit and Beyond: Recycling Smarter This America Recycles Day
On November 15, 2025, we will observe America Recycles Day. First celebrated in 1994, and proclaimed a national observance in 1999 by President Bill Clintion, America Recycles Day is currently managed by Keep America Beautiful. It’ s promoted as a day for millions of Americans to spread the word on how recycling helps us reduce waste, save energy, and conserve precious resources.
Utilizing the curbside Mecklenburg County recycling bins is an easy way to honor America’ s Recycling Day all year long, but the items that can be placed in those bins are somewhat limited: aerosol cans( empty), aluminum cans, cardboard( flattened), cereal boxes, glass bottles, jars, magazines, phone books, metal cans, milk and juice cartons, paper, junk mail, newspapers, pizza boxes( clean please, cut out the greasy parts before putting them in the bin), plastic bottles and jugs,( with necks— leave the caps on), and spiral paper cans.
It’ s a common misconception that anything with a recycling symbol can go into curbside bins. Placing items outside of this list into your recycling in the hope that it can be recycled is known as wish-cycling. This can contaminate a whole batch of recyclables and / or break machines, slowing down the recycling process. While the curbside program is limited, there are many other ways to recycle or reuse items with just a little extra effort. Since our last article in 2022, even more options have become available in the Charlotte area. Here are some examples: Food Waste Composting Home composting is not for everyone. Charlotte is fortunate to have paid pick up programs offered by companies such as Crown Town and Scrap Daddy Composting and Mecklenburg County now offers a free composting service. You can pick up a free bucket at several of their locations, fill it with food scraps and drop off at one of the full service centers for composting. One nice feature of this program is that it accepts all forms for food waste— as they say:“ If it’ s edible, it’ s acceptable!” Visit their website or Facebook page for more details. The Innovation Barn One of the most exciting developments comes in the form of the expansion of the Innovation Barn, located at 932 Siegle
Avenue. The Innovation Barn is a one stop shop for several recycling solutions, including: t-Shirts, egg cartons, plastic clam shells, and plastic can carriers. The Bulb, located inside the facility, accepts 12-count egg cartons as well as clean plastic clam shells from berries, salads, etc. They also collect PakTech plastic can carriers used for holding 4-packs or 6-packs of cans and gently used T-shirts that will be repurposed or upcycled for creative projects. Larger egg cartons can be dropped off at farmers markets around town.
The Innovation Barn hosts a large Foam-A-Saurus Rex bin located on the Otts Street side which will accept all forms of clean rigid Styrofoam, including Styrofoam packaging, the takeout cups from local restaurants and Styrofoam take out containers. Please make sure these are also clean before dropping them off and remember that they do not accept plastic peanuts or the plastic-like packaging material which looks like Styrofoam but isn’ t.
Cardboard, glass, and aluminum cans can go in your curbside recycling bin, but we often bring these to the Innovation Barn in order to ensure they are recycled and not contaminated along the way.
Separate from the Innovation Barn:
Terracycle: The Terracycle website provides a variety of free programs to join in order to send back hard to recycle items. You can request a mailing label once you have accumulated a sufficient amount. One interesting note is that while the program may be sponsored by a specific company, many of the programs will accept similar items from other brands. Visit the website to find a program that is right for you.
GoGo Squeeze Free Recycling Program: Accepts all brands of squeezable snack plastic pouches and caps.
Goldtoe Socks Free Recycling Program: Accepts all brands of used clean socks.
Colgate Oral Care Fee Recycling Program: Accepts all brands of used or empty toothpaste tubes and caps, toothbrushes, toothpaste cartons, toothbrush outer packaging, and floss containers, but note electric toothbrushes, battery toothbrushes, and / or their parts.
Taco Bell Sauce Container
Free Recycling Program: All brands and types of sauce packets, dipping-style sauce cups, 2 oz or less souffle cups and lids, and coffee creamer pods.
Queen City Metal Recycling, located at 601 West 24th Street: Recycling your metal here is a double mitzvah since the organization not only diverts metal from landfills but also offers workforce development for individuals re-entering society after incarceration. By providing targeted training, skill-building opportunities, and access to meaningful employment, workforce development programs give returning citizens the foundation they need for successful reintegration into the community, achieve economic independence and break the cycle of recidivism.
Nordstrom BEAUTYCY- CLE: We recently discovered that you could drop off all brands of beauty supply containers at Nordstrom in the South Park Mall or any Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack in North America. They accept: Hair care pumps, caps, closures, plastic containers smaller than a fist, squeezable tubes. Skin care pumps, caps, closures, plastic contain-
Our gratitude and thanks to our precious Legacy Donors who have made a commitment to ensure the continued and expanded growth of our educational and enriching programs which are vital to the quality of Jewish life in the greater Charlotte region. These legacy donors have given us permission to publicize their names with the hope of encouraging you to join them. To be part of this important community initiative please contact Rabbi Shlomo Cohen at 704-366-3984.
With thanks and appreciation, Lubavitch of North Carolina and Chabad of Charlotte
charlottejewishfoundation. org
LEGACY DONORS
Anonymous *( 13) Susan and Benjamin Aizenman Yvonne Amato Bernard and Leah G. Amler Alan and Madeline Aron Robert Berman Lillian( OBM) and
Irving( OBM) Bienstock David and Bonnie Bornstein Barry H. Brodsky Chaim and Hanah Hawkins Burke David and Janice Cantor Suly and Richard( OBM) Chenkin Rabbi Shlomo and Yiska Cohen Aharon and Mintza Leah( OBM) Cohen Brian and Sonia Cohen Ivan Cooper Steven and Ellen Block Englehardt David and Aleen( OBM) Epstein Loren Leah Gelber( OBM) Goodlyn Gelper( OMB) Yossi and Mariashi Groner Joel Horwich David Jacobson Ronald and Mary-Margaret Kantor Paula and Richard Klein Lorrie and Barry Klemons and Family
Elise and Jaime Kosofsky Judy and Eric Laxer Eric and Susan Lerner Harry and Gloria Lerner Barbara and Jerry Levin Elissa and Joshua Levine Meg D. Goldstein and
Matthew Luftglass Jon and Dina Massachi Jennifer Monroe Eva Nove Gale Osborne Richard J. Osborne Nadine and Arthur Oudmayer Debora and Ed( OBM) Pizer Dena and Michael Raffler Edwin and Leslie Rusgo Fern T. Sanderson Lisa and Fred( OBM) Shporer Sheldon and Randy Sperling Philip and Lauren Stark Mike and Andie Taylor Judie and Michael Van Glish Maor and Amy Waizman Marc and Kim Wojnowich
* Donors who wish to remain anonymous OBM- Of Blessed Memory
Scan the QR code to watch a short video on how you can create your own Jewish legacy.
Want to join the growing list of CJL donors? Contact Phil Warshauer( 704) 973-4544 or Abby Kleber( 704) 973-4554.