Recycling Hub » Recycling Facts

Make a compost pile to recycle your food waste

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:16:18 +0000

Did you know that according to the EPA, every year we generate around 14 million tons of food waste which is 106 pounds of food waste per person 570,000 tons of this is composted for a 4.1% recovery rate. The rest, or 13.4 million tons is incinerated or landfilled and occupies 6.3 million cubic yards of landfilled MSW. Although most food waste will eventually recycle on their own with help of weather and animals. We still waste garbage bags and containers in the process.

Why not make a compost pile in the backyard to recycle the food waste? You can use the compost for your home garden. If you have a yard, it’s time to consider it. There’s no need to start big. Even a small compost container can get it going. Most people put vegetable waste in the compost pile. You should try to avoid anything that’s been cooked. No meats. By just composting vegetables, fruits, and paper products, we can make a big difference each year.

Newspaper should die out to save trees

admin — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:47:40 +0000

In this day and age, one wonders why they still print newspapers. How many of us actually read local papers? Maybe some retired people still do. But we can all get news online. In fact, all the publishers should only have an online presence. Do you know that half million trees must be cut down just to produce each week’s Sunday newspapers? What a waste. All news should be delivered online. Even if people recycle their papers, it’s still a waste of energy producing it. If people choose not to recycle their newspapers, then it will end up in the landfill somewhere.

Approximately paper that costs 1 billion trees to produced are thrown away every year in the U.S. Can you see the terrible waste? It means 1 billion trees could have been saved to absorb the carbons in the air. Instead they were cut down and milled into papers.

How do I recycle my old computer?

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:41:33 +0000

Like most people, I put my old computers in the attic or basement. I don’t want to give it to someone since the hard drive still has my old documents on it. After a few years, I accumulated 2 desktops and 2 laptops in the attic. The problem with that is it’s not good for the environment or my organization in the house.

Also a working computer is a terrible thing to waste. Donating computers to those who need them is a win-win opportunity. Reusing computers benefits communities, helps use valuable materials wisely, and keeps working PCs out of the trash. Businesses that donate computers are helping others obtain access to technology that is now almost a necessity for education and communication. Just be sure the organizations will take your computer.

Another way is to recycle. Best Buy, Sony, and many other stores now will recycle the computers for you for free. I personally like this option better since my old computers are so slow and the batteries on the laptops are dead. Just check with the retailers’ websites for their recycle help.

Get your whole family to recycle

admin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:19:52 +0000

We all know that we need to recycle as much as possible. But the trouble is sometimes we just don’t have time or don’t feel like taking the trouble to place an item in the recycle bin. It’s particularly harder to get our children and husband to recycle. Men sometimes simply don’t think about those things. Unless it’s beer cans or newspaper, most men don’t bother to recycle small items.

There are things we can do to make it more convenient to recycle. Don’t place the recycle bin too far from the kitchen trash can. If you place the recycling bin in the garage, kitchen closet, or outside, it’ll be hard for them to remember. Place the bin side by side with the trash can, and mark it with a giant sticker, “Recycle”. Your children and husband will remember it next time. Mine did.

Recycling protects US manufacturing jobs

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 03:04:23 +0000

You probably would have not thought about this, recycling protects and expands US manufacturing jobs. How is that? Because the people who are involved in collecting, transporting, sorting, and reusing are all here in America. These jobs can not be shipped overseas. So when you and your family make the effort to recycle, you’re helping to put people to work.

Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. Collecting used bottles, cans, and newspapers and taking them to the curb or to a collection facility is just the first in a series of steps that generates a host of financial, environmental, and social returns. Besides the global benefits, recycling can benefit the local community as well.

Composting is not actually considered recycling

admin — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:58:53 +0000

This sounds strange, but composting is actually not considered recycling. Materials that can be gathered and reprocessed into new materials are called recycling. Materials such as glass, metal, plastic, paper, etc.

Things that are biodegradable are not considered to be recycled. So don’t mix up your garden waste, trees, food waste, leaves with recycled materials. Making a compost pile is the best way to get rid of biodegradable wastes. Instead of adding more stuff to the waste treatment plant or landfill, compost them in your backyard.

Buy a small compost bucket and put on your kitchen counter and a large compost bin in your backyard. Although you probably can do just fine making a designated area in the backyard, but it’ll cleaner if you have a heavily wooded area with wild animals. They can definitely make a mess of your compost.

Battery Recycling

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:45:28 +0000

Lead-Acid Automobile Batteries
Nearly 90 percent of all lead-acid batteries are recycled. Almost any retailer that sells lead-acid batteries collects used batteries for recycling, as required by most state laws. Reclaimers crush batteries into nickel-sized pieces and separate the plastic components. They send the plastic to a reprocessor for manufacture into new plastic products and deliver purified lead to battery manufacturers and other industries. A typical lead-acid battery contains 60 to 80 percent recycled lead and plastic.

Non-Automotive Lead-Based Batteries
Gel cells and sealed lead-acid batteries are commonly used to power industrial equipment, emergency lighting, and alarm systems. The same recycling process applies as with automotive batteries. An automotive store or a local waste agency may accept the batteries for recycling.

Dry-Cell Batteries
Dry-cell batteries include alkaline and carbon zinc (9-volt, D, C, AA, AAA), mercuric-oxide (button, some cylindrical and rectangular), silver-oxide and zinc-air (button), and lithium (9-volt, C, AA, coin, button, rechargeable). On average, each person in the United States discards eight dry-cell batteries per year.

Alkaline and Zinc-Carbon Batteries
Alkaline batteries, the everyday household batteries used in flashlights, remote controls, and other appliances. Several reclamation companies now process these batteries.
Button-Cell Batteries
Most small, round “button-cell” type batteries found in items such as watches and hearing aids contain mercury, silver, cadmium, lithium, or other heavy metals as their main component. Button cells are increasingly targeted for recycling because of the value of recoverable materials, their small size, and their easy handling relative to other battery types.
Rechargeable Batteries
The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), a nonprofit public service organization, targets four kinds of rechargeable batteries for recycling: nickel-cadmium (Ni-CD), nickel metal hydride, lithium ion, and small-sealed lead. Its “Charge Up to Recycle!” program offers various recycling plans for communities, retailers, businesses, and public agencies.

Source: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/battery.htm

Reduction at Home

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:42:35 +0000

Consider reducing your purchase of products that contain hazardous ingredients. Learn about the use of alternative methods or products-without hazardous ingredients-for some common household needs.

To avoid the potential risks associated with household hazardous wastes, it is important that people always monitor the use, storage, and disposal of products with potentially hazardous substances in their homes. Below are some tips for individuals to follow in their own homes:

Use and store products containing hazardous substances carefully to prevent any accidents at home. Never store hazardous products in food containers; keep them in their original containers and never remove labels. Corroding containers, however, require special handling. Call your local hazardous materials official or fire department for instructions.
When leftovers remain, never mix HHW with other products. Incompatible products might react, ignite, or explode, and contaminated HHW might become unrecyclable.
Remember to follow any instructions for use and disposal provided on product labels.
Call your local environmental, health, or solid waste agency for instructions on proper use and disposal and to learn about local HHW drop off programs and upcoming collection days.

Source: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/hhw.htm

Household Hazardous Waste

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:41:52 +0000

Leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients are considered to be “household hazardous waste” or “HHW.” Products, such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides, that contain potentially hazardous ingredients require special care when you dispose of them.

Improper disposal of household hazardous wastes can include pouring them down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or in some cases putting them out with the trash. The dangers of such disposal methods might not be immediately obvious, but improper disposal of these wastes can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health. Many communities in the United States offer a variety of options for conveniently and safely managing HHW.

Source: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/hhw.htm

Benefits of Recycling

admin — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:01:22 +0000

* Recycling protects and expands U.S. manufacturing jobs and increases U.S. competitiveness.
* Recycling reduces the need for landfilling and incineration.
* Recycling prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from virgin materials.
* Recycling saves energy.
* Recycling decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.
* Recycling conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals.
* Recycling helps sustain the environment for future generations.

Source: http://www.epa.gov/