How to recycle...correctly?

Hi again!

Although recycling looks like the simple task of putting plastic, glass,metals, papers, cardboard, etc in a different bin than your trash, it is much more complicated. I'm not trying to scare you nor make you feel it will take a bit chunk of your time, but doing it right is an 'art', and as such, it requires a little bit practice and a lot of patience.

Today I will go over some basic examples about proper ways to recycle certain objects. Let's go over the simple stuffs:

Water bottles, Milk bottles, Gatorade bottles, dish soap bottles or any plastic bottles! 

In order to recycle it properly you MUST:

1) Remove the label

2) Remove the lid

3) And even the plastic ring!! 

Just like in the picture below: 

Some curbside programs and recycling places are able to take the lids and the rings , but almost guaranteed you will have to discard the label in the trash. For Michiganders: the caps can be donated to Scrap Ann Arbor

Unfortunately, the bottle will be the only recyclable piece. 

Plastic egg cartons (wtf?), cherry tomatoes, salad containers, veggie trays! 

Similarly, you will have to remove the labels on these containers. 

Just like the picture below!

Metal cans for beans, corn, fruits and so forth!

Please, please! Metal is one of the most important material to be recycled because it can be used almost unlimited times - unlike plastic. But, once more - as like the other containers - you have to remove the label!

Pasta boxes, frozen dinners or any type of box with a small plastic "window"

In general, for space and simplicity, disassemble the box and always remove the little plastic window of the box. Unfortunately, that plastic window cannot be recycle, but the cardboard most likely can be recycled. 

Some pasta boxes come with a sign that says How2Recycle - Which you can also see on the blue shipping envelopes from Amazon- . This is a special recycling program where specific locations (i.e. Target) receives certain types of items. For more info click here

There are a lot of other things that you need to consider, but these initial rules will help you to start your recycling process more effectively!

Do more research!! The internet is a great resource! Just look at this great webpage: http://apps.npr.org/plastics-recycling/

Not a place nearby to recycle ? Mail it!

Hello there,

Since recycling is such a labor intensive process, some people will face the challenge of not having an easy way to access a recycling company. Nonetheless, the ever grown world of business has allowed the appearance of several companies that will received (sometimes for free, sometimes for a cost) your recyclables. I want to leave clear that some places will charge high fees for your recyclables, so these might look more attractive from business than from an individual point of view. Let's go to check them out, shall we?

Terracycle:

These guys literally recycle anything. The company has several collection programs for different items that can go from your typical recyclable to toys, ear plugs, razor blades, you name it. Since P&G has a partnership (or owns?) this organization, some of their products have completely free returnable policies and sometimes even drop off locations. I think is worth to look at it because the range of opportunities is very broad.

Preserve:

This company will let you ship them all your #5 PP plastic. They will reuse it to create products such a toothbrushes, food containers or kitchen tools. I would encourage you to check their "What we accept" Section before packing anything. They also have a cool program for recycling Toothbrush, although I won't lie: I don't know if they accept only Preserve's toothbrush or any toothbrush, but it´s worth to look.

Autoparts Stores:

If you do your own oil changes, I hope you know you cannot simply throw the oil and filter into the trash! Some places will do recycle the oil, the filters and even the car batteries for free. You should ask on your local stores because I´m pretty sure this only applies for selected locations.

GRC Wireless

This company will let you recycle or trade smartphones, cell phones & tablets. Their recycling program tend to work in bulks, for like businesses, nonprofits, schools & agencies. The best part is that they might pay you for the phone you recycled! There is also a program to donate your phone for troops. Just remember to erase all the information from your devices before donating or trading!

If this does not convince you then I would encourage you to check your phone manufacturer. Companies like Apple , Samsung and LG have recycling programs/trade-in programs to upgrade and take care of your phone or even directly through Best buy. If your phone is still functional and you like to help and donate to different causes, then there are plenty of options of where to go if you google it, but the two I liked the most are: 

- Cellphones for soldiers
- Secure the call

E-Cycling central

This directory allows you to find companies that recycling electronic equipment around all the states in US. Several are national programs or non-profits, but some will be for profit so I will encourage you to do a good search if you don´t want to pay money just for recycling (Maybe there is a place that pays you for it! not so far from home)

Clothes and furniture

As long as your shirt or pants are not ripped apart you should consider donating clothes to charities such as GoodWill or Salvation Army. There is a lot of good they do to help people in need, and maybe in the process you find a little treasure in one of their stores. Regarding furniture, you can consider donating it as well (TAX-DEDUCTION$$$) or selling it if the furniture is not damage. I made 15$ selling a desk that someone threw and it was in perfect shape using Facebook Market. But please, I strongly encourage you to find a new place for your furniture. Do not toss it, there are too many more ways of getting rid of furniture than turning it into trash.

Recycling 101

From the time I lived in Germany I was amazed by the power of recycling. The likelihood that at least 60-80% of what we consider trash can be reused surprises me.

What is recycling? 

For a lot of us is basically putting plastic, papers, cardboard and cans in a different container than the organic trash. Then, some quick "magic" happens and we hope the plastic is actually reused.  Well,  there is a long way from the moment you put your recyclables in to the bin to the point they are reused.

Basics

Normally the recycling components can be divided in 7 categories:

This image from the New York State Department of Enviromental Conservation gives a very simple explanation of examples for each category:

What do you notice on this list? I'll give you a minute...

...Something is missing! Where are the numbers for cardboard, batteries, metals? 

Well, I hope you don´t run away after this but... The recycling numbers can go up to 98! (More information here):

 Box with a #21 PAP sign

What do you need?

No, you don´t need 98 recycling bins. You could definitely have a simple setup like this:

 Setup to start your recycling dreams

I would advise you to check if:

1.- Your apartment complex or curbside pick up does recycling

2.- If 1 is a NOPE then check if there is a recycling drop-off station in your area

3.- WHAT can they recycle? Specifically ask for:

• #2 (Plastic bags. Please please please, put them aside. Ideally just return them to the supermarket)
• #3 PVC (plastic pipes. By the way, if you come across one of these things while is getting burn, I would go away as far as I can be - highly toxic -)
• #4 LDPE (The plastic bags from the bread. They are normally returnable to the supermarket where you bought them)
• #6 PS (Normally not recyclable on your regular curbside recycling pickup. But there ask, right? There are two forms: styrofoam and solid plastic. Styrofoam = container from those chinese take-outs you like so much; Solid Plastic = McDonald's lids (Bottom right corner you can see a PS-6))  
• Glass (Some of the beer bottles are returnable, which means 10 cents back to you! Also some good wine bottles are non-returnables, so you might have to use a different service. Do not put pyrex! -Is not recyclable-
• Plastic caps (yes, you have to separate the caps and the  the little plastic tamper evident rings from the bottle. Why? It might not be the same plastic as the bottle and there is a slight chance that the plastic used on the lid cannot be recycled. Some places like SCRAP Ann Arbor accept plastic caps)
• Cooking oil (Do you drain those grease pans into the sink? Please don't! Use a bottle and fill it with the oil from your pans... it might be a slow process, but you will do yourself and the environment a favor. But if you don't trust me, maybe this might change your mind (There is a really good article on the topic from a Turkish company that it´s word your time:   Click here to be wiser!)
• Tetrapak containers (Tetrapak could be juice boxes and milk cartons, for example. As you might have noticed, these containers are not made with just one material, it´s a combination of layers, which makes the recycling process a challenge)
• Batteries (Make sure you ask for alkaline batteries, those are the ones that your remote uses. Lithium-ion are the one you can find on cellphones. Don't just assume it can be recycled... you can cause a fire)                                     

Tips and important comments

- Before even recycling, ask yourself: "Can I REUSE this container for other purpose?". I REUSED glass bottles to make my own juices or as water bottles. I also reused jam jars.
REUSE is better than Recycling. Always.

- Do NOT put your recyclables in a trash bag. The bag itself defeats the purpose of recycling. Trust me, it's better if you toss everything into the container without a bag

- Greasy pizza boxes are not recyclables. I'm sorry to disappoint you. You could cut the sections of the box without grease and put them in the recycling bin, the rest to the trash

- As I said before: as a general rule remove the plastic caps from the plastic bottles -and the ring-, also the sticker or any decal in the bottle. You should ask the place that does recycling if they care about these things, some places are more open that others. Nonetheless, in my opinion, I want to provide the plastic as "clean" as possible

- The bags that holds your cheese, ham, cheese sticks, candies, etc.. most likely is not going to or it cannot be recycled.  My recommendation here is reducing consumption of things with one time use plastic packaging (VERY DIFFICULT!, but not impossible :) )

- Start thinking on ways of reducing your own trash production. The less you generate, the less you have to deal with.

- Don´t waste 600 gallons of water on cleaning food residue from your recyclables. Make sure is as clean as it can be with a good rinse. Remember that saving water is also important!