How and What to Recycle: The Basics

Now surely everyone knows the basics of what you can and can't recycle - aluminum cans, plastic bottles, etc., but did you know there are actually a plethora of every day items (that most of us unknowingly throw away) that can be brought into your local recycling center?

So, why recycle?

Annually over 100 million tons of waste are sent to rot in landfills, where many of them will stay for up to the next 800 years due to their delayed decomposition rates. According to Juliana McDonald at https://www.dumpsters.com/blog/us-trash-production, "The United States produces 268 million tons of waste alone - 140 million going into landfills each year. " On top of that, many of the items being sent to landfills are recyclable, meaning they could've been properly repurposed if disposed of properly.

It's clear to us here that most people aren't intentionally throwing out their repurposable/recyclable goods - they just don't know what items are recyclable vs. non recyclable. Especially considering the fact that not only are you helping the environment, but also helping your wallet since most recyclable items can be traded in for a small amount of cash. Due to this we've compiled a list of some common, and more uncommon items that you can take into your local recycling center.

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𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 (𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬!) :

• Plastic bottles & containers - bottles, jars, jugs, and tubs

• Carboard boxes - shipping and cereal boxes

• Paper - envelopes, office paper, junk mail/prints

• Aluminum beverage cans - soda, beer, and sparkling water

• Household containers - plastic containers with plastic codes 1 or 2

• Glass bottles & containers - beverage & food bottles and jars

• Cans & containers - metal food cans/containers

• Mattresses - mattresses and box springs

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 "𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧" 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 :

• Used oil - used oil and filters

• Carpet - residential and commercial carpet

• Paint - interior & exterior paint, deck coatings, floor paints, shellock, and primer

• Reusable food containers - food storage with snap and twist lids

• Plastic (Not Styrofoam!) takeout food containers for entrees, soups, and condiments

• Plastic medication containers - plastic bottles and jars

• Food cartons - dairy and non-dairy milk, soup & broth cartons, and justice boxes

* 𝐀𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 (𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬𝐞), 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 :

• Computers

• TV monitors

• VCR's

• Printers

• Cell Phones/Tablets

• Radios

• Microwaves

• Ovens

• Power tools

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Due to the fact that there's such a large number and variety of recyclable goods, not all of these items can be recycled in the same way/place. If you're not sure what items you can recycle locally, I recommend either researching it yourself or checking in with your community recycling center.

If you're interested in learning how to recycle/repurpose your left over food and other green waste through composting, tune in and check out next week's blog : 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 - 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘞𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘞𝘢𝘺