Even today’s environmentalists agree that keeping up with the many advances in recycling technology is challenging. Because of that, it’s difficult to know what can and can’t go in your recycling bins, at home or in the office. Here are seven practical items that you might not be recycling.
1. Aluminum foil and bake-ware
Though most know to recycle aluminum cans, you should recycle aluminum foil as well. Bake-ware, chewing gum wrappers, and other foil products can be placed in your recycling bins if they’re wiped clean of any food residue.
2. Magazines
Yes, even glossy paper can be recycled! Discard samples and magnets and recycle the rest in your home or office recycle bins.
3. Steel and Aerosol Cans
As long as the cans are accepted by your local program and are completely empty, un-punctured, and the plastic cap has been taken off, you can recycle steel and aerosol cans in recycling bins – labels and all!
4. Televisions
Are you upgrading to a flat screen TV and want to dispose of your old television without damaging the environment? No problem! Most e-cyclers accept donations without a fee. A quick search will let you know any locations near you.
5. Office equipment
Computers, printers, and other office equipment have chemicals like mercury, lead, and arsenic that are toxic to the environment. However, these items have base materials that are recycled into new products. It’s easy to recycle them or donate them to be resold at a lower cost. These options are not only the more environmentally savvy option, but it also helps the community.
6. Batteries
Single use batteries are full of materials that can be re-used. There are many local facilities that accept single-use batteries to be recycled, by drop off or by mail-in.
7. Plastic Bags
Though it’s true that most curbside recycling programs don’t accept plastic bags, it’s easy to take your plastic bags to a drop off location. Most large-scale grocery chains provide collection bins in front of their stores, and a few websites collect and process plastic film. This includes clean Ziploc bags, dry cleaning wraps, newspaper delivery bags, and more.
Even with years of practice, there are still a few sneaky recyclable items that aren’t common knowledge. With advances in recycling technology continually expanding, it’s both practical and environmentally conscious to invest in recycling bins at home and in your office spaces.
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