Recycling Education
Recycling Education: Why is source separated recycling beneficial? How do I recycle old books? Is my recycling REALLY being recycled?! In Recycling Education, we focus on the "why" behind recycling so residents have a better understanding about why their actions (or inaction) makes a difference, and the "how" of recycling unique or hazardous items.
How To Use the Recycle Right Toolkit:
- Click "Read More" on the post you are interested in sharing
- To quickly share the entire image and text to Facebook, click the blue "Share" button
- To share the image and text in an email, on a website, or through social media like Instagram
- Click the "Download Image" link to automatically save the image to your computer
- Click the "Copy Text to Clipboard" button to automatically copy the text that appears beneath the image
YOU ASKED: HOW DO I RECYCLE MY OLD CLOTHES?
Our clothing, shoe and other textile waste that ends up in landfills has increased 300% since 1990 and it’s not getting any better. In fact, it's getting worse.
NOT-SO-FUN FACTS:
- "Fast Fashion" is a $2.5 TRILLION dollar industry (annually). It's the 5th most polluting industry world-wide and the SECOND largest water polluter globally.
- Textile waste comprisesses 8% of the US total wasteRead more
HOW TO DISPOSE OF USED FIREWORKS OR DUDS
Happy 4th of July! If you're celebrating with fireworks tonight, be safe, be smart, and be sure to dispose of used fireworks or duds correctly! It's as easy as 1, 2, 3:
1. SOAK used fireworks or duds for a minimum of 30 minutes (though we recommend soaking them overnight, just to be on the safe side!)
2. WRAP the soaked fireworks in plastic wrap, a sealable plastic bag, or severalRead more
YOU ASKED: HOW DO I RECYCLE WASTE OIL OR ANTIFREEZE?
Waste oil and Antifreeze are toxic, caustic, and are considered household hazardous waste - they should NOT be burned, dumped, or thrown into your household trash.
Antifreeze (also known as coolant or radiator fluid) is toxic and can be especially dangerous because its sweet smell and taste can attract pets, who can quickly become fatally poisoned if they ingest any of the liquid.
♻ The easiest way toRead more
This sign: "♻️" does NOT mean something is Recyclable!
You've seen this symbol "♻️" - known as "chasing arrows" - on all sorts of plastic things. You may think it means something is recyclable...or is made from recyclable materials. Unfortunately, it's never that straightforward.
This symbol with a number in the middle tells you what type of resin - or plastic - the item is made out of.
This means it can give you a CLUE asRead more
BREAKING DOWN STYROFOAM, RECYCLING, AND TRASH, OH MY!
Styrofoam is a great example of something that *technically* is recyclable, but rarely ever is. Why? Let's get into it!
First, styrofoam is made up of 5% polystyrene and 95% air, which means that it isn't compactable. The only way to break down styrofoam is to densify the plastic by removing the air through heat and pressure combined. This process requires specialized machinery, and to be profitable, requiresRead more
YOU ASKED: IS MY RECYCLING *REALLY* BEING RECYCLED OR JUST BEING TRASHED?
Great question! This is something we more often hear from communities with single-stream recycling, where all recyclables are put together into the same bin and hauled away to a magic recycling facility.
The short answer is YES, the vast majority of your recycling IS being recycled. There will of course be cases where recycling CONTAMINATION creeps in and ruins a small percentage of theRead more