Recycling must continue to evolve and include a global push to reduce waste, according to Powell.

“I wish the definition would change,” Powell said. “I wish people wouldn’t just see recycling as blue bags, newspapers and cardboard on the curb. We can recycle mattresses. We can recycle scrap metal. There are all kinds of alternative things that, right now, there’s a possible market for. We just have to tap into it. Recycling is still alive. It has to be revamped.”

Eliminating single-use plastic items immediately would be a huge step in the right direction, according to Powell.

“They’re an absolute abomination,” Powell said. “There are certain restaurants in Kenosha that ask you if you want a straw instead of just putting it in your drink. Grocery stores are still using plastic bags. The amount of energy it takes to create this plastic bag from a petroleum-based product that we just fill at the grocery store, empty at home and throw away is ridiculous. We shouldn’t be doing that.”

Targeting new carts

There are 32,000 households in position to receive new, 96-gallon trash and recycling carts. A community outreach, planned this winter, will inform residents of the proper way to recycle, what needs to be collected and how to reduce contaminants and waste.