What is and isn't appropriate for recycling?

Question

My husband and I have decided to get three receptacles for the kitchen and start recycling. I was wondering what we should and shouldn't put in them? If I were to empty a bottle of Hershey's syrup should I wash it before I put it in the plastic bin? I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't know any more than I do about the subject, but we're trying to make some positive changes in our lifestyle and this is one of them. Any advice is very much appreciated!

Answer 1

You just need to find out what works in your community. Unless your waste collector picks up recyclables, you don't need special bins - any bag or box will do (recycle something). In our community, Bellville, TX, the city recycling center takes paper bags of mixed newspaper, junk mail, office paper; all plastics; all tin cans so that determines how we sort. (Stamp on the plastic containers so they take up less space while you collect them.) Cardboard and glass (clear and brown) goes up to Brenham to their larger recycling center. All trips to the recycling center are when we are out running errands anyway.  All of our vegetable waste, coffee grounds, egg shells, etc. goes into our compost bin then gets used in our garden. You will be amazed at how little garbage collects when you recycle. By the way, Habitat for Humanity of Austin County loves to get the aluminum cans - they can raise a little extra cash with them.  A tip for cutting down on the junk mail is to go to greendimes.com where you can register to stop getting mailings and catalogs from selected organizations. Good luck and have fun!

Answer 2

yeah wash it out. However, first check to see if these containers can be recycled

Answer 3

Hi there and Happy Earth Day!

I've been recycling since I was a teenager (now 32) and, believe me, it becomes a habit more easily than you might think.  Personally, I rinse everything before throwing it into my bin.  Not a full-on soap-and-water wash, but I put a bit of water in the bottom and either recap the bottle and SHAKE furiously or, if there is no cap, swirl the water around until whatever's inside comes out.  

My advice: do what works best for you so that it's not a burden and you'll be more prone to continue doing it!  For my hubby and me, we put one catch-all bin in the kitchen and throw everything into it: cans, plastic, paper, etc.  I have a handful of laundry hampers in the garage that are specific for paper plastic, etc.  Once the kitchen bin gets full I take it out to the garage and sort it there.  Then I load up the bins and take them to the drop-off when they're full.

What to put in the bins?  Are you asking in a general (what should I recycle?) or specific (what types of plastic) way?

Just get in touch if you have any more questions - I'll be glad to help if I can!

Meridith

Answer 4

it depends on your city recycling program. where i live some plastic is ok and some is not. all newspapers, cans, and jars are ok. in my last home, they only took aluminum cans. cities get money for aluminum but pay to recycle everything else. some can't afford to do it all.

Answer 5

FIRST OFF:  ducky (above), you may have done YOUR research, but you obviously haven't done GOOD research.  It takes an unbelievable amount of energy to mine bauxite ore, isolate the aluminum oxide from this, and then purify it into pure aluminum...and overseas shipping to us is usually involved at some point.  Recycling aluminum that we already have on native soil is a lot less destructive and a lot less energy consuming.  Go back and research some more.

That said, a lot of things are recyclable, and we are finding new uses for old things everyday.  I'm sure you will get a lot of advice on what to recycle, so I'll just say this:

Check with your recycling company or local waste management to see what they can take and what they can't.  Not every recycling plant recycles all materials, and when extra stuff that they can't sell or use gets thrown in the mix, it usually ends up in the landfill anyway at the company's expense.

For example, a lot of recyclers ask for #1 and #2 clear plastic bottles (they'll be specific about this).  If you have a #1 plastic that is not in this form (like a food tray), do not throw it in with the rest.  It is of a different thickness and cannot be shredded to the same thickness as plastic bottles.

The same goes for glass.  Certain types of glass like Pyrex and plate glass cannot be recycled with beer bottles because of chemicals which are used to make it.

This will change as technology improves, but until then, only put what they ask for in the bins and keep the garbage out of the recyclables.

Answer 6

dont recycle!  its worse for the environment then throwing things away... i know that sounds weird, but i've done my research and know that it takes more time, money, and energy to make something out of something old, then to make it from scratch.

Answer 7

Rinse out any empty containers (like that chocolate syrup bottle, or any glass jars).  Also, call your garbage people to see what they accept -- some places only take certain kinds of plastic (they'll tell you which numbers to look for on the bottom of the container).