TIP 39: Aluminum Cans
FACT
More than 50 percent of the aluminum cans produced are recycled. A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf as a new can in as little as 60 days.
DO SOMETHING
When recycled, an aluminum can produces enough energy to keep a 100-watt bulb burning for almost four hours or run your television for three hours. Even more interesting, because aluminum is a durable and sustainable metal, two-thirds of the aluminum ever produced is still in use today. While they’re abundantly recyclable, there are also super cool reuse projects for cans as well.
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8 Ways to Reuse Your Cans
TIP 37: Plastic Bottles
FACT
Americans buy an estimated 28 billion plastic water bottles every year, and nearly eight out of every 10 of those bottles will end up in a landfill, translating to about a 23 percent recycling rate.
DO SOMETHING
Make sure to find out which plastic bottles are accepted for recycling in your area. Many programs collect plastic bottles made from PET (#1) and HDPE (#2), which together represent almost 96 percent of all plastic bottles produced in the U.S., including milk jugs, water, soft drink, juice bottles, shampoo, toiletries, laundry detergent, household cleaners, salad dressings and other food jars.
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360: Recycling Plastic Bottles
TIP 35: Glass
FACT
Glass containers are 100 percent recyclable, and an estimated 80 percent of recovered glass containers are made into new glass bottles. Glass also has the quickest turnaround of any curbside product, back on store shelves in as little as 30 days.
DO SOMETHING
Bottle Bills have made glass recycling more popular in curbside programs. But it’s important to know what glass is accepted in your local program. Putting in a color of glass that is not accepted by your program, or treated glass, such as windows and mirrors, leads to contamination issues that reduces the value of your entire batch.
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Your Top Glass Questions Answered
TIP 33: Paperboard
FACT
Paperboard is a thicker form of paper used in consumer packaging such as cereal boxes and drink boxes. More than 85 percent of the U.S. population has access to paperboard recycling.
DO SOMETHING
Many of your food packages will have a plastic bag separating the food from the paperboard, which should be removed prior to recycling. If paperboard is stained with any sort of cooking oil, it becomes unrecyclable. If it gets drenched with water, the fibers shrink, making it less valuable. So, keep food away from your paperboard recycling bin, and don’t put your paperboard recycling out in the rain.
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Categorizing the Paper in Your Life
TIP 31: Phone Books
FACT
On average, 660,000 tons of phone books end up in landfills every year. By recycling just 500 books, we could save between 17 and 31 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 463 gallons of oil, 587 pounds of air pollution, 3.06 cubic yards of landfill space and 4,077 kilowatt hours of energy!
DO SOMETHING
Many local and state recycling facilities now accept phone books, possibly through your curbside program. But remember that your phone book is filled with material that can contaminate the recycling process, such as magnets and plastics. Check with your local and state guidelines regarding prepping for recycling. You can also shred the pages to use in your garden to keep out weeds. The paper is biodegradable and will eventually break down.
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Phone Books: To Opt-in or Opt-out?
TIP 29: Aerosol Cans
FACT
About 90 percent of all aerosol cans are made of steel and the remaining 10 percent are made of aluminum. Both types can be recycled. More than 3 billion steel aerosol cans are made in the U.S. annually.
DO SOMETHING
Recycling aerosol cans depends upon whether the container is empty or still has liquid inside of it. If the product is empty, you have the option of dropping it off in a bin designated for steel or aluminum at your local recycling facility or in your curbside bin if it is accepted. Never throw aerosol cans in roadside dumps or trash fires. These cans are still pressurized and can explode.
The Aerosol Can Debate Continues
TIP 27: To-Go Containers
FACT
That foam to-go box from last night’s dinner is made from polystyrene (or plastic #6). Because the material is so lightweight (comprised of 97 percent air), it is easily carried by wind and water currents to all reaches of our planet, and its unsinkable nature makes it a main component of marine debris.
DO SOMETHING
Most curbside programs do not accept foam to-go containers. Some cities have even instituted bans on to-go packaging in an effort to cut waste. But a growing number of shipping retailers will recycle or reuse your packaging materials, such as UPS, Mail Boxes Etc., Postal Annex and Fed Ex/Kinkos. Also, the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers offers a mail-back program to U.S. residents. Postage costs will apply.
360: Recycling Plastic #6
TIP 25: Bottle Caps
FACT
Plastic bottle caps are one of the top 10 items found during marine debris beach clean-ups and are the second most littered item after cigarette butts. Made of plastic #5, these caps are often a different material than their bottle counterpart.
DO SOMETHING
If you’re in an area where plastic cap recycling is not available, seek out retailers that accept them. Any Aveda network salon or store will accept the caps to be made into new Aveda caps. Aveda recycles the caps into new packaging for some of its product lines. Preserve, in partnership with Stonyfield Farms and Organic Valley, also accepts plastic #5 for recycling. You can mail in your caps to Preserve or drop them off at your local Whole Foods location.
360: Recycling Bottle Caps
TIP 23: Appliances
FACT
The annual energy bill for a typical single family home is approximately $2,200, and your appliances make up 13 percent of that amount. If you’re in need of an upgrade, consider an Energy Star-rated model. From washing machines to refrigerators, energy-efficient models can save you hundreds of dollars in annual energy bills.
DO SOMETHING
The government recently rolled out “Cash for Appliances” rebate program, which utilizes nearly $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to encourage consumers to purchase Energy Star-certified appliances. For the greatest potential energy savings, the DOE recommends programs focus on appliances, heating and cooling equipment and water heaters. Don’t forget that these products also qualify for huge tax credits. Check our list of deductions to see just how much you can get.
Cash for Appliances is Official
TIP 21: CDs & DVDs
FACT
As of September 2009, Apple has sold 220 million iPods, and users have downloaded more than 8.5 billion songs from iTunes. To put that in perspective, that’s the equivalent of 85 million CDs that would have been made. CDs contain three main components: plastic, metals and ink.
DO SOMETHING
Those little plastic CD cases are made from plastic #6 polystyrene, and may be accepted in your curbside program. But if that isn’t an option, two excellent resources for disc disposal are Back Thru the Future and the CD Recycling Center of America. While you pay the shipping costs, there is no recycling fee at either of these organizations. If you just can’t bear to part ways with your cases, we found some odd, fun reuse ideas for your CD cases.
Hey Music Lovers! Don’t Toss Your CDs
TIP 19: Keys
FACT
Keys, keys and more keys. We have keys for our front door, our cars, filing cabinets and more. And most of us are guilty of throwing them in a junk drawer or tossing them in a box in the garage when we move or change locks.
DO SOMETHING
Keys For Kindness is a small, family-run program designed to raise money through metal key recycling for the Multiple Sclerosis society. Though the shipping expenditure is on your own dime, we’re sure the good karma will be worthwhile.
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Wow, You Can Recycle That?
TIP 17: Trophies
FACT
The challenge with recycling trophies is that most of the modern awards are made of molded plastic that is dyed to look like precious metals. This also includes the base, although it may appear to be marble or wood.
DO SOMETHING
Total Awards & Promotions, Inc. has created a trophy recycling program to benefit charities. Through a mail-in program, the company’s Madison, Wisc. headquarters recycles your defunct awards or re-engraves and donates them to nonprofit organizations. One of many trophy recycling programs offered nationwide, the company also manufacturers its own awards made of recycled glass and newsprint.
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Businesses Score With Trophy Recycling Programs
TIP 15: Crayons
FACT
Each day, more than 120,000 pounds of crayons are produced in the U.S. alone. With drop-off bins nationwide and a mail-back option, the program accepts unwanted and broken crayons for recycling into new crayons.
DO SOMETHING
Most schools and community organizations will accept unbroken crayons for use in their art programs. But there is also a National Crayon Recycle Program operated by Crazy Crayons, LLC. The recycling program has diverted more than 47,000 pounds of crayons from landfills. If you’re looking for a bit of creativity, you can even make your own candles from crayons.
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8 Ways to Green School Waste
TIP 13: Yoga Mats
FACT
Made of materials such as natural rubber, plastic, PVC or latex, most yoga mats are recyclable. In 2008, more than 50 percent of mats collected were upcycled into other products, and more than 30 percent of mats collected were donated to local community programs.
DO SOMETHING
Yoga studios around the country are embracing the idea of mat recycling and donation. If your studio does not participate or you are a home practitioner, Recycle Your Mat has mail-in programs for all types of mats as well. JadeYoga is also another viable option for donating and reusing your mat. Or, get crafty and check out other cool reuse projects for yoga mats.
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Hey Yoga Lovers! Don’t Toss Your Mat
TIP 11: Cooking Oil
FACT
While it may seem harmless, pouring cooking oil down the drain can harm wildlife and wreak havoc on local sewage systems. In fact, cooking oil and kitchen grease is the No. 1 cause of clogged sewer pipes.
DO SOMETHING
If you’re not collecting your excess grease in a cup beside the stove for later use, chances are your drain has some substantial clumps. But there’s another option for disposing of cooking oil: alternative fuel. While many commercial facilities already contribute substantial supplies, some programs invite households to recycle their excess grease as well. If planning to recycle, please be sure not to mix any water with the oil. Use Earth911 to find a cooking oil recycling facility near you.
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Yes, You Can Recycle Cooking Oil
TIP 9: Batteries
FACT
Americans purchase nearly 3 billion dry-cell batteries every year. Despite a down economy, battery recycling is at an all-time high. Battery recycling collection saw a 6.9 percent increase, and Call2Recycle collected 6.1 million pounds of rechargeable batteries in 2009.
DO SOMETHING
If you’re unable to find a local recycling option, you can consider mail-in recycling programs. Single-use batteries are also accepted for recycling at all Batteries Plus locations. Nine states have passed laws banning rechargeable batteries from landfills. But if you live in an area that’s not covered by this mandate, Call2Recycle is a great place to start recycling your rechargeable batteries.
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The Ultimate Battery Guide
TIP 7: Household Cleaners
FACT
The U.S. EPA found that the air inside our homes is on average two to five times more polluted than the air outside. Chemical toxins are highly present in some antibacterial cleaners. By choosing greener cleaning products and properly disposing of hazardous products, you can reduce the presence of these harmful toxins in our ecosystems and optimize your health – while still keeping your home clean.
DO SOMETHING
Before we go any further, household cleaners cannot be recycled. You can take them to a household hazardous waste (HHW) collection or facility for proper disposal though (you can find one using Earth911). Green cleaning products have the following traits: biodegradability, high concentration, low toxicity, low volatile organic compound (VOC) content, reduced packaging and low life-cycle energy use.
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Getting to Know Your Household Cleaners
TIP 5: Computers
FACT
In 2007, the U.S. EPA estimated that 65.7 million desktop computers, 42.4 million computer monitors and 2.1 million laptop computers were in storage, not being used. Plus, “Electronics” was the top search on Earth911’s Recycling Directory in 2009.
DO SOMETHING
More than 800 communities have created electronics collection events to help manage e-waste. Many computer manufacturers and retailers offer some kind of take-back program or recycling event. But before you think about getting rid of anything, make sure you have weighed all your options. Think about upgrading, donating or selling your computer. Need a jump start on your search? Use Earth911.com’s recycling database to find computer donation options in your area. Many computer manufacturers and retailers offer some kind of take-back program or recycling event. Mail-in programs are also great options for recycling. These programs can be substituted if local options are not available.
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Your Top Electronics Questions
TIP 3: Compostable Packaging
FACT
Products made of bio-based materials that are also compostable are becoming increasingly popular. While most of these materials can only be composted in commercial facilities, some new, innovative products can actually be composted at home.
DO SOMETHING
Try SunChips new compostable chip bag. Every 10 ½ ounce SunChips package is made from plants so it is designed to fully break down in just 14 weeks when placed in a hot, active compost bin or pile. If you have a home composting system, give it a try! To identify other compostable packaging and materials that can be composted commercially, look for the Biodegradable Products Institute certification – the most recognized program for industrial compostability certification for plastics in the U.S.
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What “Bio” Really Means
TIP 1: Pesticides
FACT
Pesticides are monitored by the U.S. EPA and must go through rigorous testing before they can be distributed. The EPA requires about 100 different scientific studies and tests from all applicants seeking to register pesticides. There are several different type of pesticides, but the most notable are chemical pesticides (man-made) and organic or biopesticides (naturally occurring).
DO SOMETHING
You can reduce the amount you consume of these chemicals by wisely utilizing leftover product. If any pesticide remains after you are finished, safely store it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Contact your local waste management service to find out when collections for household hazardous waste (HHW) are taking place. You will need to bring your leftover pesticide and containers to the event. Do not place empty pesticide containers in general recycling. Some studies have suggested that you can still promote home gardening without the usage of pesticides.
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The Evolution of Pesticides