Discover how to ReThink Recycling with the Hefty ReNew Program
Recycling can be confusing. What items go where? Why? What is hard-to-recycle plastic?
Don’t worry. The Hefty ReNew™ team has got you covered! When we better understand how to dispose of each item properly, we create cleaner waste streams, allowing more materials to be recycled and repurposed.
The 4 Rs of waste management
Reducing, reusing, recycling, and recovering can help you, your community, and the environment by saving money, energy, and natural resources:
Reduce
Finding ways to reduce your waste can help. For instance, using reusable shopping bags, lunch bags, and water bottles can help lower your daily waste.
Reuse
Instead of throwing things away, find new uses for them. You probably do this already. For example, you might give away old clothes and books. Or you might save wrapping paper and bags to use again.
Recycle
Recycling is the process of collecting and reusing discarded items to create something useful. By putting empty soda cans or milk jugs in the recycling bin instead of the trash, you help the environment.
Recover
The Hefty ReNew Program helps recover hard-to-recycle plastics. The Program takes items that you think can go in the recycling bin, but really can’t. When you place acceptable hard-to-recycle plastics in the Hefty® ReNew® Orange Bag, they can be transformed into other valuable resources, keeping them out of landfills.
Why the Hefty ReNew Program differs from your existing recycling
When you throw away your trash and recyclables, they journey to different destinations. The flow of waste from your home to final disposal, recycling, or renewal is called a waste stream. Let’s examine the differences between regular recycling, the Hefty ReNew Program, and solid waste streams.
Regular recycling stream
Community recycling programs usually collect glass, plastic bottles and containers, aluminum cans, paper, cardboard, and other recyclable items. However, each community may accept different things, so it’s a good idea to check with your local waste handler to see what they recycle. After collection, the items are sorted at a materials recovery facility (MRF) and then sent to companies that can turn them into new materials.
Hefty® ReNew® Orange Bag stream
The Hefty ReNew Program doesn’t replace your regular recycling. It complements your recycling efforts! The Hefty ReNew Program helps you recycle hard-to-recycle plastics that your local recycling program doesn’t usually accept. These accepted hard-to-recycle plastics are different from the ones you put in your regular recycling bin. So, it’s essential to put them in the special Hefty ReNew Orange Bags for recycling. This helps your local recycling center identify, sort, process, and send them to the right places that can turn them into new products. Along with our community partners, we recover and repurpose these plastics so they can stay out of your local landfill.
Solid waste stream
Most of our trash ends up in landfills. It can take hundreds of years for landfilled plastics to decompose. With the Hefty ReNew Program, you can help keep more plastics out of your local landfill—with little effort. If available in your area, simply gather the accepted items in the orange bag and drop them in your curbside recyclables or at an approved drop-off location.
Toolkit for the kids (and kids at heart)
Attention parents, educators, and community youth organizers! Are you looking for ways to get your kids involved in reducing plastic in your neighborhood? Gather your team and take on the challenge. Our fun kids’ toolkit will help them understand how the Program works, why it’s important, and how they can participate. Upon completing the challenge, download and complete our MVP certificates to present to each child.
Toolkit for adults
The Hefty ReNew Program plays a unique role in your community, just like you do! You have an excellent opportunity to spread the word and motivate your community to make a difference. Think about hosting a trivia night, throwing a block party, or organizing a booth at a local community event to raise awareness. The toolkit shares ways you and your friends can brush up on your recycling knowledge while revisiting favorite classic games like darts, bag toss, and trivia. You can make a big impact in your community by taking small steps.
How can I get my community to participate in the Hefty ReNew Program?
- Contact your local waste management/recycling provider or community leaders to encourage participation in the Program.
- Reach out to the Hefty ReNew team to see if your community is eligible.
- This helps us learn about community interest.
- It also helps community leaders and recycling partners start local programs.
Still have questions?
Hefty ReNew Program participants—need more details about the program or product? We’re here to help.
How it works
Find out how to recycle your hard-to-recycle plastics alongside your current recycling efforts.
Making a difference
We promise to make sure the plastic we collect goes where it should and is converted into something kinder to the planet than landfilling.