What can be recycled?

There were many great comments on my last post. During this research project, I think what I talk about might change as I learn more. I am already finding that there is a close connection between recycling and the three R’s. Therefore, I will definitely be addressing the 3 R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle).

I thought the first area I should focus on with this research project is to find out what things can be recycled. I think typically people mainly think about recycling aluminum, paper, and plastic, but there is alot more that can be recycled.

The easiest place to start thinking about what you can recycle is things that you use in your everyday life and probably don’t think much about unless you have decided to really concentrate on recycling and learning what you can do with many of the things you use on a regular basis.

I think taking on a major recycling effort also includes thinking about what you buy, how things can be reused, and if you truly need what you are buying. So this is part of the 3 R’s. I really thinking it takes a mindset change where you are consciously making decisions that will make a difference for our environment. Have you ever thought about what is actually in your trash and then what happens to it once it’s picked up at the curb? According to the EPA, national averages show the following is in our trash:

• 38% paper – how much junk mail do you throw away?
• 18% yard trimmings
• 8 % metals
• 8% plastic
• 7% glass
• 7% food waste
• 14% other

All of this trash is hauled to landfills which are getting full. 67% of our garbage is taken directly to the landfill and only 17% of our trash is recycled. Sometimes the garbage will be incinerated before it is hauled to the landfill, but the ashes still need to be dumped there. 16% of the garbage is incinerated before takent o the landfill.

The following are some common items that are recyclable and most likely will be taken by your local recycling organizations.

• Paper including cardboard, magazines, phonebooks, newspapers, etc.
• Batteries
• Yard trimmings
• Glass
• Aluminum
• Other metals
• Uused motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze
• Plastics

In addition, there are a plethora of other items that can be recycled or reused. Have you heard the saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasures? I think sometimes we just need to think about if something that we are going to throw away would be useful to others. The following is a mixture of items that can either be recycled or reused:

• eCycling – personal computers (hard drives, monitors, keyboards, printers), televisions (dvd palyers, vcrs), cell phones (pagers, digital equipment, scanners, cell phone accessories, mp3 players, etc.) There are many businesses that will accept these items such as Apple, Dell, HP, Intel, Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot, Sony, Sharp, and many, many more! Check with your local stores or manufacturers.
• Paper and foil juice packets – if your local recycling place won’t take these, you can ship clean packets to:

  BRING Recycling
  Reuse Warehouse & Business Office
  86641 Franklin Boulevard
  Eugene, OR 97405

• Autos, trucks, trailers, boats, jet skis, motorcycles, rv’s – Junk yards and many non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) will take your vehicle even if it isn’t in running condition.

• Books – there are many websites such as amazon.com, half.com, ebay, etc. that will let you resell your books. In addition, think of donating to libraries
• Clothing – take clothing that is in good shape to thrift stores, salvation army, etc. Clothes that aren’t in good condition can be used for rags
• Eye glasses – you can take these to many of the optical places such sa Lens Crafters, Pearle Vision, Sears, etc.
• Fruit rinds, veggie scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags – use for gardens or plants by turning into compost
  
• Packaging (peanuts) – UPS stores will accept
  
• Printer cartridges – refill used cartridges or take to an office supply stores. Many office supply stores will give you some sort of discount.
  
• Priority Mail (Tyvek) Envelopes – ship back to Tyvek
  
• Smoke detectors – send back to manufacturer
  
• Videotapes, Floppy Disks, Zip Disks, DVDs, CDs, Jewel Cases – Alternative Community Training (http://actrecycling.org/) accepts these and resales them.
  
• Wire hangers – consider donating to dry cleaners

As we are thinking about the things that are in our trash, we should also think about what we buy and possibly what we can be reusing or repurposing. Do you get paper or plastic at the store? If you are getting plastic bags, what do you do with them after you unload your groceries? What about how things are packaged? Choose products that use less packaging which will reduce the amount of trash we have. Also, consider if you can buy things that can be reused. Refillable soft soap comes to mind. Also, as you are shopping look for items that are made from recyled materials.

Yard trimmings and discarded food is also another large contributor to what is in our landfills. These substances are ideal for making compost which helps fertilize our soil. According to the Kansas Don’t Spoil It website, “Compost holds nutrients from decaying material in a form that is easily absorbed by plants. Leaves, grass clippings and food wastes are suitable for composting. Compost is especially beneficial when combined with manure. Compost puts your garbage to work for you. Part science, part art – it’s all good!” So rather than sending your yard trimmings and discarded food to the landfill, consider creating compost. See the Kansas Don’t Spoil It website for details on how to create compost.

I hope this has given everyone a starting point of starting to think about the types of recyling that can be done. It is quite a list and really makes you think about all the things that can be recylced and how you might go about chaning your daily habits and routines.

Since paper is the #1 item found in our trash, I thought I would leave you with the following video:

Here’s another one.

Why Recycle?

Hello everyone. I’ve decided to do an informed citizen project focused on recycling. I want to learn more about recycling and what benefits there are to the various recycling efforts.

Some of the things I would like to learn more about are:

• How things are actually recycled and how much reuse there really is.
• What is the economic benefit.
• How recycled products are used in artwork.
• How recycling is portrayed in the media.
• What public policies are in place.