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Saturday, December 8, 2012

Catch up on your recycling

Recycling container

 
Recycling: Old Story, New News.

By: Travis Galbraith

The saying Reduce Reuse, Recycle is as popular as Nike’s slogan Just Do It. But what do we know? Yes, we know we have recycling service along with our trash service.  You probably know that we can put old newspapers, plastic bottles, glass bottles, and cardboard boxes into your recycling can or box. Other than that, how much do you actually know about recycling? Do you know what do with your old computer? What about your old or unused motor oil? What about those drawers filled entirely pesky plastic bag you have stored somewhere in your house?
What Happens to Stuff We Throw Away: Pie chart showing 34.1% of trash is recycled or composted, 11.7% is combusted for energy, and 54.2% is landfilled. This data is from the 2010 Municipal Solid Waste Characterization Report.
 
Reducing Landfills

As a reminder recycling isn’t just for show and tell.  Recycling greatly reduces the problem of overflowing landfills. As most waste is put into landfill, the bigger the problem gets. Products that are not biodegradable or slow to decompose can remain in landfills for centuries, often emitting gases that could be harmful to the environment.

Reduce Energy Consumption

Recycling often uses less energy than manufacturing products from virgin sources. Making paper that is using recycled pulp, for instance, is less energy intensive that using new wood.

Decrease Pollution

Waste from landfills gives off gasses as it rots. The absolutely pollutes the environment, and if you have driven past one you know how they smell in the summer time on a hot day. Recycling products also emits less carbon which reduces the carbon footprint of a product.

Your local community is there to help, giving you the opportunity to act responsibly with the products you purchased and used up. Here is a list of common products people use in the household if recycled and help reduce the harmful effects of just throwing them into the landfill.

Unbroken glass: Only bottle glass is acceptable. Exceptions: Ceramics, Pyrex, windows, mirrors, and light bulbs.
Clean and Dry Newspapers: Pack newspapers tightly in brown grocery bags or tie with twine to keep together. Exceptions: Product samples, moldy or dirty newspapers, and other contamination.
Empty metal cans, caps, lids, bands and foil: Metals can be recycles over and over again. Exceptions: Full cans, spray cans (unless instructed) cans with hazardous paint or waste.
Plastics #1 and #2 (marked usually on the bottom): This one is tricky, because there are a lot of exceptions, most plastics aren’t recyclable numbers 3, 4,5,6,7 especially #3.
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Plastics grocery bags: Most grocery stores have barrels where you can return them. Exceptions: dirty and contaminated.
Motor Oil: Contact your garbage company, local quick lube/tire shop or call 1800-MOTOROIL
Automotive batteries: Take to an automotive or security dealer for recycling or trade in.
Laser/Ink printer cartridges: Search for the brand of the cartridge online and contact their recycling division.
I-pods, Laptops, computers: Contact the manufactures via the web for the best option. The batteries inside these electronics are extremely toxic a and should disposed of properly.
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 Sources
http://www.epa.gov/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/139294-how-can-recycling-help-environment/

 

 

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