There is a lot of garbage that can be recycled; it is just up to people to decide to recycle it. Often, people do not like to think about recycling because they think that they may be throwing out good but ultimately useless items. There is so much that can be reused that people need to really look at the big picture and reclaim their garbage by reusing and recycling it. Here are some of the best ways to help you get started:
Paper & Cardboard: What Can/Should (And Cannot) Are Recovering Often it’s difficult to determine if a paper or plastic product is okay for recycling. Junk mail, for example? Glossy magazine covers?
The recycling facility will probably have strict guidelines as to what can and cannot be recycled, so make sure to read them before sending any unwanted materials in. Some recyclable materials such as paper can’t be recycled because they break down to chemical compounds that are too small to be used in manufacturing. These can range from cardboard to plastic to lead. In most cases, it is best to avoid sending paper through the mail if possible and take it to a local office that handles waste and recycling instead.
Food Outstanding: If it is feasible, try to recycle anything edible that you can. Anything that has a paper packaging and/or glass can be tossed into the trash. This includes: pasta, cereals, breads, fruits, and other food residue, especially if they’re in the can (i.e. food residue from last night’s dinner).
Packaging & Light Bulbs: These can all be recycled, but not in the same way. First of all, some packages contain heavy plastics that are usually recyclable, but which are not easy to break down into a biodegradable form. For this reason, it might be best to send these items directly to a recycling facility instead. Another good reason to send packed food through the mail is that many household light bulbs are now starting to be made using biodegradable materials and they will be disposed of in a safe manner. It might be more expensive to send light bulbs to a recycle than to simply throw them away, so if you’re able to, do so.
Recyclable packaging: Some packaging like food or medical packaging requires special handling to ensure that they are safe and able to enter the recycling system. You may want to contact your local recyclers to see if they have any packaging that can be sent to the scrap metal dump. Also, recycling companies that specialize in hazardous material removal will be able to tell you whether their services include the proper handling and packaging of recyclable materials.
Staple elimination programs: Many households are also familiar with the “staple removal” recycling program. This program sends paper, plastic and aluminum cans straight to the recycling bin with your other trash. It’s a great program because not only does it help to reduce the amount of garbage that ends up in a landfill, it also ensures that most household staples are not consumed by pests or eaten by animals. The problem with staple elimination is that it can sometimes take a long time before enough cans to make a significant dent in your recycling needs are received. If this is a problem, you may want to look into other solutions to your paper and plastic removal needs.
Getting feedback from others who have experienced successful results on their own from their own recycling efforts can be extremely valuable. Talk to those who have a recycling bin nearby or check out online discussions. Keep track of what’s working and what’s not by keeping a detailed log of your own notes. Even if you think that your current collection efforts are doing a good job, it never hurts to get others’ opinions.