Are you wondering how a pandemic like COVID-19 can affect the regular recycling service in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire? There is a focus right now on waste production and how a pandemic can change routines and behaviors. Some also have safety concerns about recycled waste. Is it safe and is ABH Services open for business as usual? Here’s what to know.
The Economy, Food Shortage Fears, And Mass Buying
While the pandemic has been great for the environment, it’s wreaking havoc on the economy. Sure, there are fewer cars on the roadways and air quality is great, but most industries are shutting down to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Garbage disposal, however, is creating a bigger crisis because people are changing their behaviors and investing in products in bulk.
There are also issues with the recycling industry further complicating the issue. Recyclers invest in the processing and removal of waste, but some things are too costly to handle. Recyclers are also not taking some items and sending them to landfills because there are no reusable options. Plastic and oil also have parallels. When the oil prices fall, it is more affordable to make plastic.
During the coronavirus pandemic, two critical things occur that affect consumers. First, shelter in place orders increase waste amounts that consumers normally produce. Food shortage fears also cause panic shopping to occur. Consumers then have an over-abundance of non-perishable household goods, including lots of extra toilet paper, plastic beverage bottles, and canned foods.
As most people cannot travel to recycling centers, many product containers end up in the trash bins, which goes to our local landfills because of a reduction in city personnel during this pandemic. Massachusetts waste disposal haulers did resume weekly pick-ups on April 6th, but the city put in place harsh restrictions to force residents to comply with recycling curbside demands.
Reusing And Recycling During A Pandemic
More than twenty million Americans are unemployed because of the pandemic. Most families are still struggling to keep food on the table. Reusing and recycling during a pandemic is a great way to make money fast for household expenses and keep things going during a crisis. Waste quality is decreasing, but you can clean containers to ensure we take them without issue.
What Is The Most Profitable Material To Recycle?
Are you wondering what the most profitable material to recycle is? The most lucrative items to recycle right now include paper, e-waste, junk, debris, empty ink cartridges, tires, aluminum, glassware, scrap metal, car batteries, aging electronics, food packaging, wood waste, and plastic. If you are unsure of an item, just ask us for our advice or an honest opinion of a product’s value.
Is ABH Services Open Now?
Because of the essential job of recyclers, ABH Services remains open for business during the coronavirus pandemic. We monitor the issue daily and work diligently to provide PPE to our employees who are coming into contact with waste. We are also offering curbside trash disposal service to help you get rid of the waste you are consuming during shelter-in-place quarantining.
Give us a call at 781-941-2422 to learn more about our recycling service. You can also visit us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/abhservices/ to get more information on recycling.