(SUSSEX COUNTY, Del.) - Delaware is making strides for being environmentally friendly.
"I'm proud that Delaware is recycling," said Carlos Melendez, site supervisor of Sussex County's recycling transfer centers. "It's making the place look a lot cleaner."
State officials say, we're recycling at 42%. Higher than the national standard of 34.5%.
Convenience reigns supreme here.
"We have these drop off sights where residents can recycle their single stream recycling -- cardboard -- things like used oil -- oil filters and textiles can all be dropped off at these sights," Michael Parkowski from the Delaware Solid Waste Authority.
The state recycling law has played a huge role in all of this.
Business owners paid four cents for every bottle they sold -- like this one. In turn funding services like home pickup.
That requirement is now exhausted. But DSWA says that doesn't mean recycling will decrease.
"Private businesses that have gotten involved in recycling probably will continue. They've built that cost into their model," said Parkowski.
The Delaware Solid Waste Authority says the state has done so well with recycling because they try make use out of everything. They sort things like medal -- hubcaps, chairs -- anything you can think of. They'll take them -- send them to material recover facilities where it's sorted through and then sold to people who will make use of those usable products.
"Back in the day people didn't see it as a big thing," said Melendez. "'Eh' it's okay.' but now you got to keep the place clean. You got to keep the environment clean."
