There\u2019s no denying that recycling is an earth-friendly habit\nthat can help keep our environment clean, conserve natural resources, and cut\ndown on pollution while benefiting the economy. And it\u2019s important we all do\nour part. But, are you recycling the right way? If you\u2019ve ever been confused\nabout what goes in the recycle bin, you\u2019re not alone. About 30% of what gets\nput in our recycling containers doesn\u2019t belong there. In fact, these \u201cextras\u201d\nwe\u2019re throwing away in hopes they get recycled, can taint an entire truckload\nof recyclables sending them to the landfill. Kind of defeats the purpose,\nright? If you want to finally cut through the confusion surrounding recycling\nkeep reading for these simple recycling do\u2019s, don\u2019ts, tips, and tricks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whenever I clean out a closet, I usually find at least a few\nthings I want to get rid of. But do you ever get that icky feeling putting\nsomething that looks perfectly good in the trash? Sure, you haven\u2019t used it in\n12 years, but does it really belong in the landfill? Don\u2019t think of throwing it\nin the recycling bin to ease your guilt. The recycling gods won\u2019t descend and\nturn your old bowling ball into something recyclable. It\u2019s not going to happen.\nAnd while done with the best intentions this bad recycling habit is really\ncounterproductive delaying sorting at the recycling facilities and clogging\nmachinery. Things like garden hoses, old tangled strings of Christmas lights\nand that boombox you got back in high-school don\u2019t belong in the recycling bin.\nIf they\u2019re not in bad shape, consider donating them to a local charity or\nthrift store so they can be reused. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the quest to be a recycling guru you may be tempted to\nrecycle every little thing you can. But small pieces like bottle caps, shredded\nor tiny pieces of paper, and can tabs can get stuck in the recycling processing\nmachines. When in doubt do the credit card test. If it\u2019s bigger than a credit\ncard, it can be thrown in the recycling bin. If it\u2019s smaller, toss it in the\ntrash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bagging recyclables makes things difficult at the sorting\nfacility especially if the bags (like plastic) aren\u2019t recyclable themselves.\nKeep recyclables loose unless instructed otherwise by your local recycling\ncompany. The only exception to this is shredded paper, which can be contained\nwithin a paper bag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my household, food and drink containers account for the\nmajority of what ends up in the recycle bin. But did you know that putting just\none food covered container in the recycle bin can contaminate an entire\ntruckload of recyclables? So don\u2019t toss those dirty bottles of leftover\nketchup, oil, or sticky peanut butter jars into the recycling bin. Ask yourself\nif it\u2019s empty, clean and dry. And when in doubt, throw it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 Paper!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The paper should never be wet, sticky or mixed with other types\nof materials. Examples would be sticky notes, bubble wrap mailers, or envelopes\nwith a clear plastic window. Used coffee cups are also a no-no. Newspapers,\nmail and magazines, office paper, and notebook paper get the recycle bin green\nlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 Cardboard!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clean moving, shipping and food boxes (cereal, crackers,\ncookies, etc.), as well as juice and milk containers, are recyclable as long as\nthey\u2019re rinsed out. The non-greasy side of a pizza box is okay too. Just tear\noff the dirty side, throw it away and put the clean side in the recycle bin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 Plastic Bottles and Jugs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Always empty, clean and dry! No food residue of any kind\nwill do. With plastic try the \u201cpoke test.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you can press your finger through the plastic, it\nshouldn\u2019t go in the recycling bin. That includes sandwich bags, plastic wrap,\nand plastic grocery bags. Grocery store bags can usually be brought back to the\nstore for recycling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 Aluminum Soda Cans, Tin Cans\nand Aluminum Foil (Unspoiled)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soda cans, as well as soup, tuna, and bean cans, are\nrecyclable. Again- just make sure they\u2019re empty, clean and dry! Give them a\nrinse and tip them over to drain before tossing in the recycle bin. Clean\naluminum foil that isn\u2019t contaminated with food is also acceptable. Never\ninclude aluminum foil with food stuck to it, bottle caps, or soda can tabs (on\ntheir own) or razor blades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 Glass? It Depends\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While glass is a recyclable material, check with your local\nmunicipality to see if it accepts glass. Never put broken glass in the\nrecycling bin. Whether it\u2019s broken window glass or a broken beer bottle, just\ndon\u2019t do it. It can clog machinery and be dangerous for workers handling the\nrecyclables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u274c No Batteries And Electronics<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check with your local recycling company about the proper way\nto dispose of batteries. Companies like Best Buy accept many electronics as\nrecyclables. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u274c No Food or food contaminated\nitems of any kind<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u274c No Foam<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u274c No single-use utensils, paper\nplates, napkins, or paper towels<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u274c No plastic sandwich bags,\nplastic wrap, or plastic grocery bags<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u274c No clothing or shoes<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you open the lid of your recycling bin and it makes you\nwrinkle your nose, it\u2019s time to give it a rinse. Foul odors are usually from\nthrowing food contaminated items in your bin, the remnants of which can\ncontinue to contaminate your recyclables. For sticky residues, you may need to\ngive it a good scrub with dish detergent. Always turn it over to thoroughly\ndrip dry before filling it with recyclables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s no denying that recycling is an amazing thing. But\nit\u2019s also important for all of us to find ways to reduce the waste we\u2019re\ncreating in the first place. Small changes can make a big difference over time\nreducing our individual footprint on the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are a few easy changes you can make to reduce the\namount of waste in your home:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sustainable Living is the Future! Start Educating Kids Early\nAbout the Importance of Recycling<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to recycling we all have to do our part. That\nmeans getting our kids involved and teaching them about the importance of\nrecycling and how to do it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There\u2019s no denying that recycling is an earth-friendly habit that can help keep our environment clean, conserve natural resources, and cut down on pollution while benefiting the economy. And it\u2019s important we all do our part. But, are you recycling the right way? If you\u2019ve ever been confused about what goes in the recycle bin, you\u2019re not alone. About 30% of what gets put in our recycling containers doesn\u2019t belong there. In fact, these \u201cextras\u201d we\u2019re throwing away in hopes they get recycled, can taint an entire truckload of recyclables sending them to the landfill. Kind of defeats the purpose, […]<\/p>\n