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Featured Editorial
Posted by
Denise Murray
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Let's sort out the real deal recycling tips we all need to know to do our parts in eco-friendly living. Separating our recyclable items is a sustainable solution to reducing trash and working to protect the environment. Most of us are doing the work to reduce, reuse, and recycle, however, there are common mistakes leading to contaminated recycling. Placing your recyclable items in bags may help with storage or transport, however, plastic bags destroy recycling facility machinery. Did you know food-soiled items, like pizza boxes with grease or uncleaned containers with leftover food can ruin the recycling process, leading to additional trash sitting in the landfill? Read on before heading out to recycle, avoid these sustainability fails with our eco-friendly recycling tips for green living.
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Sustainability Fails | Eco-Friendly Recycling Tips for Green Living
Being a sustainability fail isn't as bad as it may seem simply because you're taking action and learning throughout the green living process. First, it's wise to take time to familiarize yourself with your local recycling guidelines. This is one way to avoid placing non-recyclable items or contaminants in your recycling bin. Let's make our sustainability efforts a positive impact to the recycling process. Here are a few tips-
Glass (Clean) Recyclables
Beverage Bottles
Wine Bottles
Ketchup Bottles
Sauce Bottles
Canning Jars
Fails- Including questionable or non-recyclable items like drinking glasses, mirrors, light bulbs, ceramics or plexiglass in the recycling bin can effect quality and cause safety hazards at recycling facilities. When in doubt, it's best to check with your local guidelines or throw it away with your regular trash.
Plastic Recyclables
Dairy Containers
Beverage Bottles
Water Bottles
Shampoo Bottles
Dishwashing Containers
Laundry Detergent Containers
Bleach Bottles- Yes
Containers Labeled #1 or #2 - Yes
Fails- Many food and beverage pouches cannot be recycled because leftover food inside and because they're made from combined layers of plastic and aluminum. Plastic bags can be recycled only in appropriately labeled collection receptacles and never along with recycling items. Plastic bags, clothing, ropes, yarn, light strands, garden hoses, wires, chains, blinds, and cords become tangled and wrapped around other items and machinery.
Metal Recyclables
Beverage Cans
Aluminum Products
Trays
Fails- Batteries, electronics, cellphones can be recycled as e-waste, however, never should be tossed in with general recyclables, as they may cause fires in containers, vehicles, or at recycling facilities.
Paper Recyclables
Newspapers
Books
Junk Mail
Glossy Flyers
Magazines
Copy Paper
Shipping Boxes
Food Packaging Boxes
Shoe Boxes
Fails- Most receipts are printed on thermal paper that is not recyclable. Whenever possible skip printed receipts and request digital receipts.
Common Recycling Fails
These items are commonly made mistakes when sorting out recycling and should be placed in your regular trash receptacle.
Aerosol Cans
Animal Medical Cones
Balloons
Bike Helmets
Bubble wrap
Candles
CDs/DVDs
Corks
Crayons
Credit/Gift Cards
Envelopes (Padded)
Envelopes (Plastic)
Face Masks
Fiberboard
Frozen Food Bags/Boxes
Gas Cans
Glow Sticks
Holiday Lights
Ice Packs
Light Bulbs
Matches
Meat Packaging
Mirrors
Paint Brushes/Rollers
Paint Cans
Pencils/Pens/Markers
Phone Cases
Photographs
Pizza Boxes (Food/Oil)
Plastic (Foam, labeled No. 6)
Plastic (ABS, sometimes labeled "No. 7 Other")
Plastic Toys
Plastic Wrap
Pool Noodles
Popcorn Bags
Pots and Planters
Produce baskets
Pyrex
Razor Blades
Rubber Bands
Rubber Gloves
Shopping Bags (reusable)
Silica Packets
Silicone Products
Straw
Straws
Suitcases
Takeout containers
Trophies/Medals
VHS Cassettes
Water Filters
Windshield wipers
As the owner of the digital content published by Creative Learning Center Studios, I am compensated to provide my opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. This content may contain affiliate links. Even though, as the writer/owner of this blog receiving compensation for posts or advertisements, I will always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs or experiences on those topics or products. This content abides by word of mouth marketing standards. I believe in the honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party in question. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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