Look out for hidden plastic and metal components. A paper milk or broth carton, for instance, might be sealed with an interior metal (non-recyclable) lining to preserve the contents. You’ll need to remove any non-paper components before giving paper products to a recycling program. Consider making recycled paper at home. The process is relatively simple, and you can use it to dramatically reduce the amount of paper waste that flows out of your home!
1: PET (Polystyrene Terepthalate): This is one of the most common plastics used in consumer products. You can find it in most water bottles and soda bottles, as well as some packaging. PET is almost always recyclable. 2: HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene): This is the stiff plastic found in milk jugs, toys, soap bottles, and some plastic bags – even park benches and waste bins. It is the most commonly recycled plastic because the process is comparatively easy and safe. 3: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): PVC is not recyclable. This category of plastic is soft and flexible: it is used to make everything from clear plastic food wrapping to garden hoses to plastic pipes to children’s toys. PVC contains a number of toxins that can leach out throughout its life cycle. 4: LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene): This category is commonly used to make shrink-wrap, squeezable bottles, grocery bags, and garment bags. It is safer and less toxic than many other plastics. LDPE is not often recycled, but more and more communities are taking steps to handle this material. 5: PP (Polypropylene): This is recyclable through some curbside programs, but it is rarely recycled in the U. S. PP is often used as a barrier against moisture in chemicals: in products like plastic liners, disposable diapers, yogurt containers, straws, and packing tape. Ask your recycling program if they recycle PP! 6: PS (Polystyrene): This cheap, lightweight plastic goes into egg cartons, styrofoam cups, plastic cutlery, “packing peanuts,” and laminate flooring. Polystyrene is carcinogenic, and it is one of the plastic types that most permeates the world’s oceans and landfills. PS can be safely recycled, but most programs are not equipped to do so. 7: Other (BPA, Polycarbonate, and LEXAN): Category #7 is a catch-all for various polycarbonate and “other” plastics, which are usually not recyclable. Products containing #7 plastic include disposable coffee pods, baby bottles, and car parts. One notable exception is PLA plastic, made from bio-based polymers, which is compostable but still falls into category 7.
Do not store your bottles in the same bin as used lightbulbs, mirrors, sheet glass, and pyrex. These products are made from a different type of glass than bottles, and they are usually not recyclable.
Find out if there’s anything that your local recycling center will not recycle. Some centers, for instance, are not equipped to handle certain types of plastic. Every recycling program is different. Find out whether you need to sort your recycling. Some centers require you to separate out different materials before dropping them off, while other centers will sort through mixed waste to pick out the recyclable items. As a general rule, drop-off sites require you to sort your recycling, while curbside pickup programs will take a mix. [5] X Research source
Some regions even offer a curbside compost pickup! Learn about the difference between composting and recycling. If your recycling is not picked up on trash day, try to get in contact with someone from the city’s recycling program. Call the city manager, or run a web search to find a contact number for the recycling center. Find out why your bins were not picked up, and ask about what you’ll need to do to get them to the recycling center.
You can place the items into bags – but remember that plastic bags are not recyclable! You’ll need to take the waste out of the bags before you drop if off. Make sure that everyone in your household knows which items can and cannot be recycled. Try making an informational sign or handout to post near the recycling bin.
Look for ways to recycle items into home decor: turn old boots into planter pots, sew clothing into blankets, and use old wine bottles as candle holders. Think about how you can repurpose a “used” item into something functional. Wash out old condiment jars and use them for drinking or storage; use old clothes as cleaning rags; and consider rinsing out slightly-used Ziploc bags for a second use. [6] X Research source
Try using community websites like Craigslist and Freecycle to find homes for unused items that you want to sell or give away. Before you throw something away, ask your friends, your family, and your neighbors if they can use it. [7] X Research source Most Goodwill centers feature a drop-off point where you can bring your still-usable things, no questions asked. Look around: there may be other thrift stores or distribution centers in your area that offer a similar service. [8] X Research source
