by Beth Parent, Community Engagement and Outreach Manager at CSWD
With Earth Day just around the corner (Tuesday, April 22), it’s the perfect time to reflect on the small actions we take that add up to a big impact—like recycling. Have you ever paused before tossing a box or plastic bottle in the blue bin and thought, “Is this really going to be recycled?” You’re not alone. In a world where national headlines question the integrity of recycling, it’s easy to feel skeptical. We certainly cannot speak to what happens in other states, but we can say with certainty here in Chittenden County, your recycling matters—and it works.
At the Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD), we sort and ship your recyclables to real markets where they’re turned into new products. Our Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Williston is where the magic happens. Once your blue-bin items are collected and sorted at the MRF, they are then sold to buyers across North America.
Here’s a quick look at what your blue bin recyclables become once they leave your curbside:
- Cardboard & Paperboard are sent to places like Kruger Inc. and West Rock, where they’re transformed into new cardboard boxes and paper towel cores.
- Glass bottles and jars are ground and repurposed locally by Glass2Sand and Whitcomb Construction into road base and concrete block mix.
- Plastics #1, #2, and #5 are shipped to companies like KWP Plastics, Envision Plastics, and Mohawk Industries, who turn them into new beverage containers, fleece jackets, carpet, even drainage pipes and paint buckets.
- Aluminum and steel cans are melted down at NH Kelman Inc. and reappear as rebar, bikes, appliances, baseball bats and, yes, new cans!
Recycling only works when it’s done right, and Chittenden County residents are part of Vermont’s success story. But to keep that going, we need your help. The most critical part of recycling happens before materials reach our facility —right in your blue bin. Sorting correctly, knowing what goes where, and staying updated on changes to accepted materials ensures we can continue to operate efficiently, ethically, and sustainably. Want to ensure you are recycling right? Click here.
In fact, understanding what happens after the bin can transform the way we see waste. We stop thinking of it as “trash” and start seeing it as raw materials that are made into something new. Let’s keep working together to make sure our recycling system remains strong, transparent, and trustworthy. Your blue bin is not the end of the line—it’s the beginning of the next cycle.
Curious about where other materials go when they leave our facilities? [Click here to explore our full list of accepted recyclables and their final destinations.]
Together, we can make recycling something we’re all proud to stand behind.