The City of Covington and Keep Covington Beautiful (KCB) are working together through important initiatives to educate and raise awareness about reducing plastics and recycling right in our everyday lives. KCB launched the "Skip The Straw" initiative back in October of 2018. This initiative supports the reduction of single use plastics that are harmful to our environment. You can support this initiative by looking for the Cov Doesn't Suck posters in area establishments and by asking your server to skip the straw. Most recently, KCB partnered with Roebling Point Books and Coffee, Lil's Bagels, Bean Haus Bakery & Cafe and Left Bank Coffeehouse on an initiative to encourage folks to reduce waste by using reusable mugs. Just take your reusable mug to any of the participating businesses, mention KCB and receive a discount.

"You can make small changes in your everyday routine that contribute to a more sustainable world like using stainless steel straws and reusable mugs", said Ken Smith, Director of Neighborhood Services

When it comes to recycling at home the City is here to help residents understand what is acceptable, what is not acceptable to throw in your cart and what materials have to be taken to special reuse outlets. Throwing the wrong materials in your recycling cart can damage equipment at material recycling facilities and even cause fires. In the upcoming weeks watch your mailboxes for an educational brochure that highlights items that are not recyclable in the curbside program. Go to the City's website and take the Covington Recycling Pledge and be entered to win a $100 gift card from Rumpke. Click Here

City Hall is doing its part my reducing plastics that end up in the landfill by adding the collection of plastic film to its internal recycling office program. Did you know plastic bags and film (like what you would find surrounding a case of plastic water bottles or paper towels) are not recyclable in Covington's curbside recycling program? You can take plastic bags and film to your local retailer for recycling. Today there are more than 1800 participating retail locations, including locally Kroger and Target, that will collect and recycle plastic film.

"Just last year City Hall added plastic film recycling to our internal recycling collection program. Now we fill up the recycling and plastic film receptacles much faster than the trash receptacles. We attribute the success of the increased collection of plastic film to good signage and ongoing education" said Stephanie Bacher, Solid Waste and Recycling Supervisor.

City Hall is also keeping writing utensils out of the landfill. This year on America Recycles Day, materials such as pens, pencils, and markers will be added to the internal recycling program. Each year, we are striving to set a good example for the city by adding more recycling opportunities to our office and diverting as much of our waste stream from the landfill as possible. The pens, pencils, and markers will be sent to The Pen Guy, an artist who uses old materials to create art. This partnership encourages reuse and the arts all while reducing City Hall's waste production.

So please join Covington City Hall and take the pledge to be informed and make sure you are recycling right at work and at home. Here are some basic lifestyle changes you can take today that will make positive impacts for the future.