Recycling: How to Take Action and Do Your Part
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No so long ago, my family and I did our part for the Clean Up the World weekend event. We cleaned up trash and debris strewn across local natural areas, including along the shore of a river and a park area downtown. I did not keep a tally of the items found, but they included things like: soda and beer cans, a variety of plastic bottles, fast food and junk food wrappers, plastic bags, cigarette butts, glass and even pairs of shoes. Even though we did a lot of work, there are a few things that had me rather dismayed. The amount of trash and recyclables carelessly pitched in bushes and streams was ridiculous and uncalled for, and unfortunately a lot more than we could handle by ourselves. Proper bins for disposing of said trash and recyclables were overflowing and swarming with insects, which would mean they’ve been left unattended or not dealt with for quite some time. And none of the passers-by cared enough to help with the effort, though they sure wasted no time in giving us looks of disapproval. Needless to say, after all was said and done, I sent a letter of complaint to my local government (the mayor, town council, etc.) about the issue, along with some suggestions for more community involvement.
Many towns across the US and the globe already have recycling programs in effect; some are even required by law. But unfortunately, too many people do not take part in the programs anyway. They will throw away or burn their trash, with no thought on the consequences their actions cause. The recycling effort has come a long way over the years, though, and people are becoming more creative with the reuse of recycled products. One example is this house made completely out of recycled products. Another example is the recycled products made by the company Repreve. They have found a way to make fabric from recycled plastic soda and water bottles. Fabrics made by Repreve are now used in products like clothing, upholstery and tote bags.
Although not everyone has the means to afford or create these kinds of inventions or processes, people can still take the right steps in becoming more involved in local recycling programs. The first step in that is to be informed of what you can and can’t recycle. Here is a basic list of recyclable items, some of which you may not expect:
- Aluminum Cans and Scrap Aluminum
- Asphalt
- Batteries
- Cardboard
- Concrete
- Electronics
A number of retailers will accept used electronic items or components such as cell phones, ink cartridges, light bulbs and computers. Stores to check out for these recycling options include: Best Buy, Home Depot, IKEA, Radio Shack, and Staples. - Garbage
Yes, garbage. Oft times, items that should have been recycled are thrown away in trash or dumpster bins instead. If people would take the time to separate recyclables from non-recyclables, there would be quite the noticeable change in landfill sizes, pollution and the like. - Glass
- Metal
- Paper
- Plastic Bags
An item of much controversy (paper or plastic?), plastic bags are able to be recycled into a variety of other items, including composite lumber, containers, pipes and—you guessed it—more plastic bags. - Plastics
- Styrofoam
The bane of many recyclers and green-lifestylers, Styrofoam has been looked down upon for quite some time, especially considering the amount of it in today’s landfills and the fact that it takes over 5,000 years to biodegrade. Luckily, Ecoblocx has developed a process that will reuse Styrofoam as insulation material. - Wood
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Even though this is a very small, basic list of items that can be recycled, it should help you become more informed and be able to inform others of the recycling possibilities at hand. Other retailers that accept items include Wal-mart, which will take car batteries, motor oil and oil fillers; and Nike shoes, which will accept shoes at different locations. This November 15th is America Recycles Day. You can help your local area become more aware and involved by throwing your own special event for the day, and also have the satisfaction of knowing that you are putting forth a good effort to helping the environment.
By Heidi Marshall
Additional resources:
Recycling Revolution
The Great Green List
Consumer Recycling Guide
EarthWorks: Accepts all forms of plastic cards (drivers license, credit cards, library cards, hotel keys, etc.)
TerraCycle: Accepts junk food wrappers (cookies, drink pouches, yogurt containers, etc.), corks and soda bottles. They also pay you per item.
Earth911: Provides suggestions for dealing with products like hazardous material, automotive, and household items.
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