Gary Talks Trash
A Blog & coming soon Podcast on how to reduce waste and make a difference in your community.
Gary Cohen is a 40+ year veteran of the packaging industry.
He is an expert in plastic food packaging, with proven expertise in waste audits, plastics recycling, sustainable packaging, and recycling market development.
He is an accredited USGBC LEED professional and is passionate about effectively reducing waste and growing markets for recycled materials.
12% of Metro Nashville and Davidson county waste is recycled.*
Nationally, the average amount of solid waste recycled is 26%.*
Davidson County Solid Waste Board states the major obstacles to expand recycling services include education, citizen apathy, and lack of support. *
You can make a difference.
It can certainly get overwhelming thinking about, how can I impact where my trash goes? Recycling rates can improve and we can reduce landfills.
The system has been broken, but things are changing. There has never been a greater demand for recycled plastics more than there is today.
Your average bag of trash could actually benefit your community, if routed correctly.
Dozens of major retailers including Wal-Mart are requiring that plastic packaging must contain no less than 25% post-consumer (recycled) materials by 2025. It has been reported that to meet the needs necessary to fulfill the demands of the packaging industry 150 new recycled resin processing plants are essential.
By getting engaged in where your local trash goes, you can make a difference.
Let’s talk trash.
*Davidson County Solid Waste Board- 2016 Solid Waste Breakdown
**Davidson County Solid Waste Board- Annual Report 2021