Local man urges people to recycle

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - A longtime Yuma County resident and retired Marine veteran is urging neighbors to act after noticing a recent uptick in improperly discarded trash across the county. A trend he says threatens the community’s environment for generations to come.

George Vogel, who has lived in Yuma for decades, is working to inform residents about proper recycling and waste disposal. “Please, please, please recycle. It might be inconvenient, but it’s so important for the environment” Vogel said.

Every year, millions of tons of perfectly recyclable material end up in landfills. Vogel says that as a community, everyone must do their part to keep recyclable materials out of the trash and reduce contamination that can render whole batches of recycling unusable.

He pointed out that many people don’t realize what belongs in the city’s blue recycling bins and that bin lids and local guidlines often note items that are not accepted. “Aluminum cans people aren’t aware of what goes in here and what doesn’t," Vogel said. "On the top of the lid it tells you what you don’t put in here: tires and things like that, food particles, kitchen trash. I want Yuma County to be informed."

Vogel stresses the importance of rinsing and otherwise cleaning recyclables to prevent contamination. “On the bottom of your containers they tell you what’s recyclable. The more we recycle, the better off our environment will be,” he said.

When recyclables are tossed in the trash or contaminated, they often end up in landfills and can create environmental hazards. According to the World Health Organization, improper waste disposal can lead to adverse health outcomes, with vulnerable community members at increased risk.

Residents who do not receive a city recycling bin still have options. Several services in Yuma County accept recyclables, including the Republic Services transfer station and Yuma Recyclers. Vogel encourages residents to check the City of Yuma’s website or contact local waste services for details about accepted items, pickup schedules and drop-off locations.