Recycling at Home
Snapshot & Benefits:
Recycling is one of the easiest ways for individuals to help the environment and
save energy. By recycling products you use at home, you can help reduce the
amount of waste that ends up in landfills and minimize the use of natural
resources and manufacturing energy. In 2008 alone, 135 million tons of
municipal solid waste was deposited into landfills in the United States. On the
positive side, 83.1 million tons of material (about 33%) was recovered through
recycling and composting in 2008 and that number is constantly on the rise. The
Environmental Protection Agency has set a goal to reach a national recycling
rate of 40% by the year 2011. (Sources:
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling and Disposal in the U.S., 2008
and
Recycling on the Go)
The EPA has also initiated a "Recycling on the Go" program that helps place
recycling containers in public places like parks, transportation stations,
stadiums, event centers, etc. and encourages the development of a "culture of
recycling"
that extends from the home to the workplace and everywhere in between. For more
information about the program,
click here.
Estimated Cost Savings:
Recycling is a free way to help the environment. Depositing materials at
recycling collection centers or in public bins is free of charge. Some curbside
collection programs require a small fee, but they are usually relatively
inexpensive. Some states will pay consumers for recycling materials such as
cans and glass bottles. There are also some companies that will pay for
recycled cell phones, ink cartridges, computers, etc. Some larger items and
electronics may require a fee to recycle depending on the company.
While recycling has no immediate monetary savings for the homeowner, the
environmental savings are monumental. Recycling helps:
-
Prevent use of natural resources
-
Minimize energy used in processing raw materials and the production and
manufacture of goods
-
Keep waste out of landfills
-
Prevents manufacturing pollution
-
Decreases greenhouse gas emissions
-
Preserve the environment
Issues:
It is important to know what can and cannot be recycled. Certain materials
cannot be reprocessed for various reasons and should, therefore, be reused or
disposed of properly. Consult the following list for common items that can and
cannot be recycled (from
http://www.visy.com.au/recycling/?id=28).
See warnings below for certain items.
|
CAN RECYCLE |
|
CANNOT RECYCLE
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|
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- Ceramic, clay pots, porcelain
- Lightbulbs
- Styrofoam
- Foam meat/produce trays
- Plastic food wrap
- Paper towels and tissue paper
- Fabrics, textiles, and clothing
- Disposable diapers
- Alkaline batteries
- Needles or syringes
- Scrap Metals
|
|
1.
Check with your local recycling center to make sure they
accept every type of plastic.
2.
Some recycling centers will not accept egg cartons.
3.
While many collection centers will not accept plastic
bags because they are so light and can easily get stuck in machinery,
some retailers now have collection bins at the front of the stores for
plastic bags to be reused or recycled. Take your used plastic bags with
you on your next trip to the store and ask if they are collecting them.
|
Many recycling collection centers require you to sort your recyclables before
dropping them off. Stop by or call them to find out what categories to sort
them into.
Regional Issues:
Some cities have initiated recycling programs where residents can put their
recycling out with their trash for collection. Many of these are experimental
at this point and do not extend to all neighborhoods or cities. Contact your
local garbage collector to inquire about any programs in your area. Also, some
companies will collect your recycling for a fee so you don't have to go drop it
off. Check with companies in your area to find out more about their recycling
services.
Installation (Getting It Done):
Recycling is one of the easiest ways to help the environment. Set up a box or
bin somewhere in your home to collect recycling in. Consider putting one in
your kitchen for bottles, cans, etc. and one in your home office for paper and
newspapers. Once your bins are full, simply empty them, sort them into
categories, and take them to the nearest recycling center on your way to work or
while running errands.
To find a recycling center near you, use this
state-by-state
guide
from the National Recycling Coalition or visit
http://earth911.com.
Videos On This Topic:
Plastic Bag
(18:33) - Ramin Bahrani -
This short narrated film gives audiences a different perspective on landfills
and what it they mean for the environment.
More Information On This Topic:
EPA - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
EPA - Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling and Disposal in the U.S., 2008
EPA - Reducing Waste Can Make a Difference
State Recycling Resources - National Recycling Coalition