Recycling and Bus Stops –What does recycling have to do with a bus stop?

Hold on to that breakfast burrito

By OOH TODAY believes all voices, not just the loudest, must be heard Last updated Sep 7, 2023

Lynn Terlaga, Municipal Affairs at COA – Partnering with municipalities and transit authorities to provide cost-free infrastructure.

What does recycling have to do with a bus stop? Glad you asked. Hold on to that breakfast burrito wrapper while we dive in.

According to the APTA, 34 million times each weekday, people board public transportation. The fact that a quick Google search produces dozens of articles (even Bon Appetit chimes in) on eating on public transportation is a testament in itself, that many of those 34 million rides include food. Who hasn’t grabbed a Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, or Dutch Bros on their way to the bus stop? And to those of you who bring a tuna sandwich, the rest of us are begging you to stop.

Americans throw away 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups every year. The Beverage Packaging Environment Council reports that 31% of all beverage containers are consumed away from home.

The point is that all those wrappers, cups, napkins, plastic utensils, leftovers, and bags have got to go somewhere. Some left on the ground, some left on the bus, and some left here and there. We’ve got a better place and it’s not a trash can that goes right to the landfill. A recycling bin. Recycling Across America notes that “recycling is the top action society can do to improve: the environment, the economy, sustainable manufacturing and to prevent waste from going into oceans.”

By providing bins to recycle at bus stops, we not only capture more materials for recycling, but we also reduce landfills, and methane and keep our cities and towns cleaner. And they add convenience for transit riders!

Many municipalities are struggling with costs and manpower to put in place and maintain effective recycling programs. COA offers a turnkey, set-it-and-forget-it solution that can help municipalities overcome these challenges. Our cost-free partnerships provide all the support needed to implement a comprehensive multi-stream recycling program, saving municipalities time and money. We are committed to helping municipalities meet the growing demand for public space recycling.

If you would like to improve sustainability, COA can help. To learn more about our turnkey public space recycling partnerships program I invite you to reach out to schedule a 15-minute virtual meeting or request a brochure. Now back to that burrito.