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Learn all the tips and tricks to recycling in your city
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Did you know most paper products, plastics, metals, and glasses can be recycled? Recycling is one of the easiest and most productive ways to help make the planet a better place. We interviewed Sustainability Specialist Kathryn Kellogg and put together a complete guide on how to recycle at home. Keep reading to start making a difference today!
Recycling Rules
- Only put recyclable materials like paper, cardboard, metal, plastic, and glass in your recycling bin for pickup.
- Rinse plastic and glass recyclables under water to remove any lingering debris or contaminants that may ruin other items.
- For batteries, electronics, oil, and other hazardous materials, coordinate a pickup or drop-off at a specialty recycling center.
Steps
Section 1 of 6:
How to Recycle at Home
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Recycle clean, rinsed items to avoid contamination. Rinse plastic and glass items before adding them to your bin. If there is any food waste, oil residue, or paint on your item, just throw it out. When your items are collected, they may mix with other items, leading to further contamination at the plant. [1] X Trustworthy Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices Go to source
- Food, alcohol, wood, clothing, lighting, tires, concrete, and foam are the most common contaminants. These items can render your entire bin unrecyclable, so just throw them out.
- If you doubt whether something is clean enough to be recycled, throw it in the garbage just to play it safe. The risk is rarely worth it.
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Sort your recyclables, if necessary. Some recycling plants will sort your recyclables for you, but local laws occasionally require you to sort the materials yourself. Typically, you’ll need to separate paper and plastic, but the requirements differ everywhere. Look up the local laws for your area. [2] X Research source
- Even if it isn’t required, do your best to keep similar items together to make things easier for the recycling facility. Stack cardboard on top of other cardboard, and keep your aluminum cans in the same portion of the bin.
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Put recyclables directly into your bin without bagging them. Regular plastic bags can't be recycled curbside. If you want to bag your items, use recycling bags . Plastic bags can be recycled in specific locations, and often, supermarkets and retailers offer a small bin at the entrance of their stores for your convenience. [3] X Research source
- You can also learn more about how to recycle plastic bags here .
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Follow your city's recycling guidelines. Every region has different rules regarding what they will and won’t take for recycling. Visit your state’s government website or type “Recycling Rules in [CITY]” into Google. [4] X Research source
- If you can’t find any information online, call your local sanitation department to find out where you can find more information.
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Pick up recycling containers if your city doesn’t provide them. Some cities offer free recycling bins, while others don’t. If you need to, buy 20 to 50-gallon recycling bins to put on the curb for pick up. Once your recyclables are collected, check the container for any residue or waste and clean the container out with water as needed. If any non-recyclable material gets on your otherwise-clean recyclables, the plant won’t be able to process your stuff! [5] X Research source
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Section 3 of 6:
How to Recycle Electronics & Hazardous Items
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Batteries Many areas have computers or big box stores with bins for battery recycling. In some municipalities, you can set them out for curbside pickup if they’re in a separate container. If you’re recycling standard disposable batteries, put a strip of electrical tape on each of the leads or put them in a plastic bag to keep them from accidentally conducting electricity. [18] X Research source
- You can find a recycling center or drop-off location for batteries in the United States by visiting http://www.call2recycle.org/ . There are also mail-in services you can use to ship your batteries to a recycling center meant specifically for this. [19] X Research source
- The process for recycling rechargeable batteries or car batteries is complicated. For anything outside of those basic batteries that go in your remote, contact your local government or recycling plant to see where you can take them. [20] X Research source
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Electronics You may be able to put smaller electronics directly in the bin, but it’s worth calling your local government or recycling plant to get more info. Electronics are usually taken apart to retrieve the plastics or metals that can be recycled, so don’t assume that an old phone or laptop needs to go in the trash. [21] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source You can also contact big box retailers, like Best Buy, which usually offer recycling services for electronics. [22] X Research source
- You can recycle TVs, computers, cameras, drones, musical equipment, printers, and speakers. Just make sure that you remove any batteries before setting them out. [23] X Trustworthy Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices Go to source
- You may need to arrange a junk removal service to pick up large appliances.
- Sustainability Specialist Kathryn Kellogg recommends donating old electronics. Many nonprofit organizations and schools will accept old computers. [24]
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Expert Source
Kathryn Kellogg
Eco-friendly Living Expert Expert Interview. 28 June 2019. - If you’re getting rid of a computer or phone, be sure to wipe it of any personal information before you throw it out. [25] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source
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Printer cartridges Call your local office supply store if an ink or toner cartridge is at the end of its life. The vast majority of office supply stores will accept old printer cartridges. Kathryn Kellogg advises that most printer manufacturers will recycle cartridges if you mail them out. [26] X Expert Source Kathryn Kellogg
Eco-friendly Living Expert Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.- You can actually refill ink and toner cartridges a few times before you need to dispose of them, so do that to reduce waste if you can!
- Ink and toner cartridges aren’t exceptionally difficult to recycle, but most people just toss them out because they don’t know they can be processed! [27] X Research source
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Oil Oil requires a unique process to be recycled. So, contact your local government, waste management company, or recycling center to dispose of it correctly. Oil is a contaminant that can make recycling other goods impossible, so don’t pour it down the drain or gutter. [28] X Trustworthy Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices Go to source
- Spent oil can also contaminate water supplies since getting it out of water is so difficult. [29] X Trustworthy Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices Go to source
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Hazardous waste If you’ve got a spent container of paint thinner or weed killer, it can almost certainly be recycled. Unfortunately, this stuff can’t go in your typical recycling bin. [30] X Trustworthy Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices Go to source Contact your local government to learn how to recycle these items. Sometimes, you may need to drop them off at a recycling plant designed specifically for hazardous waste. Examples of these kind of products include: [31] X Research source
- Cleaning products, like oven cleaner or rust remover, and home improvement goods, like solvents and paint.
- Anything containing mercury, like thermometers and fluorescent lights.
- Automotive materials, like fuel, antifreeze, and filters.
- Needles, syringes, and medicine.
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Section 4 of 6:
What Not to Recycle
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Trash dirty diapers, household items, and tanglers. Many items seem recyclable but aren’t. This includes common household items or tanglers, like USB cords, garden hoses, ceramic cookware, insulated coffee cups, shower curtains, liners, and mirrors. [32] X Research source If they're in good condition, consider donating them to a local charity. However, items beyond repair can be placed in the regular trash. In the case of dirty diapers, flush excrement down the toilet and place the diaper in the trash. [33] X Trustworthy Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices Go to source
- Additionally, items that aren’t recyclable include packing peanuts, Styrofoam, plastic utensils, bubble wrap, laminated packaging, and toys. [34] X Research source
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Hire a private trash company for construction projects. If you plan on gutting out a bathroom or adding a room extension to your home, major projects require getting your own dumpster to safely dispose of heavy debris, like drywall, furniture, and more. This can be arranged through a construction or private trash removal company. [35] X Research source
- If you’re working on a small project, you can place up to six items (bags or bundles) curbside. However, it must be light enough to be lifted by two people and small enough to fit in a garbage truck. [36] X Research source
- Dumpsters range by location and size of the dumpster, but it can cost between $400 to $850.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow can a middle school student help with recycling?Community AnswerAsk a teacher to set up a program where there are recycling boxes in all rooms. On certain days, have the students empty the boxes into the correct recycling bins. Consider setting up a competition for the different classes to see who recycles the most.
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QuestionHow can I recycle at home?Community AnswerYou could use old jars as tooth brush holders and reuse plastic grocery bags for bathroom trash can liners.
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QuestionCan colored cans be recycled?Community AnswerYes as long as they are aluminum.
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Tips
- Rules for recycling can vary between cities. If in doubt, consult the website of the recycling service provider you're using.Thanks
- Some cities and towns require you to sort your recyclables beforehand. If this is the case where you live, it helps to label each of your recycling bins to avoid accidentally contaminating items between pickups.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Instead of recycling broken electronics, have them repaired and keep using them. It will use much less energy, and you'll have a working device again!
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References
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/recycle/frequent-questions-recycling
- ↑ https://recyclingpartnership.org/communitiesforrecycling/recycling-how-it-works/
- ↑ https://earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle-plastic-bags
- ↑ https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Reduce-Reuse-Recycle/Recycling-Its-the-Law
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffkart/2019/04/15/you-may-be-contaminating-your-recycle-bin-with-non-recyclables/?sh=65aa2cb3313c
- ↑ https://pw.lacounty.gov/general/faq/index.cfm?8707=8707&Action=getAnswers&FaqID=JCFdIzRSMCAgCg%3D%3D&Keywords=1
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/recycle/how-do-i-recycle-common-recyclables
- ↑ https://earth911.com/business-policy/business/paper-recycling-details-basics/
- ↑ https://earth911.com/business-policy/business/paper-recycling-details-basics/
- ↑ https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/DepHowDoI/material.aspx?tag=paper&material_key=24
- ↑ https://www.oregon.gov/deq/recycling/Pages/Recycle-Right.aspx
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/recycle/how-do-i-recycle-common-recyclables
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/16/which-items-cant-be-recycled-plastic-bags-coffee-cups
- ↑ https://cen.acs.org/materials/inorganic-chemistry/glass-recycling-US-broken/97/i6
- ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/recycling-broken-glass-265068
- ↑ Kathryn Kellogg. Eco-friendly Living Expert. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
- ↑ http://lessismore.org/materials/14-metal/
- ↑ https://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Land/Waste/Recycling/PublicResources/Pages/HouseholdBatteries.aspx
- ↑ https://www.insider.com/things-that-dont-belong-in-recycling-2018-4#mirrors-7
- ↑ https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/renewable/the-afterlife-of-electric-vehicles-battery-recycling-and-repurposing/
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/recycling/how-to-recycle-electronics/
- ↑ https://corporate.bestbuy.com/how-to-recycle-or-trade-in-your-old-tech/
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/recycle/electronics-donation-and-recycling
- ↑ Kathryn Kellogg. Eco-friendly Living Expert. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/computers/how-to-wipe-a-computer-clean-of-personal-data/
- ↑ Kathryn Kellogg. Eco-friendly Living Expert. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
- ↑ https://eponline.com/articles/2007/11/12/tips-top-ten-ways-to-recycle.aspx
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/recycle/how-do-i-recycle-common-recyclables
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/recycle/how-do-i-recycle-common-recyclables
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/hw/hazardous-waste-recycling
- ↑ https://www.ramseycounty.us/residents/recycling-waste/collection-sites/household-hazardous-waste
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/16/which-items-cant-be-recycled-plastic-bags-coffee-cups
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/recycle/how-do-i-recycle-common-recyclables
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/16/which-items-cant-be-recycled-plastic-bags-coffee-cups
- ↑ https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02013
- ↑ https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02013
- ↑ https://trashcansunlimited.com/blog/how-much-trash-does-america-produce/
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/frequent-questions-regarding-epas-facts-and
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics-and-benefits
About This Article
Article Summary
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To recycle, first keep all your paper and cardboard, like magazines and cereal boxes, out of your trash, since almost all paper can be recycled. Then, check plastic and glass items before you throw them out. If they have the triangle symbol, they can be recycled. Additionally, you can recycle most metal items that are made of aluminum or steel. However, be careful not to include foil-lined coffee or chip bags or light bulbs with your recycling, since even with their aluminum and glass parts these cannot be recycled safely. For information on how to recycle electronics, chemicals, and motor oil, keep reading!
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