Daily Green Audit Tip: Trash Control & What Can’t be Recycled
January 29, 2008 by Jennifer
This week’s audit is trash control. Knowing how much trash you have and how to have less.
Yesterday we looked at items you should not find in your trash; items you can recycle. Today let’s look at what cannot be recycled.
Aerosol cans made from combined plastics and metals.
Squeezable plastics – in the past none of the squeezable plastics were recyclable (think mustard bottle). However, I’ve seen news that some are now. It’s still sort of iffy though.
Depending on where you take them, and what area you live in, the following may not be recyclable: Light bulbs, crystal, plastic silverware, foam, window glass, pottery (like old clay pots), carbon papers, plastic bags, and more. You need to check with your local recycling center to get the whole run-down. To find your local centers visit Earth 911 – they have a form you can fill in and it will locate you a center.
Juice boxes – some are not. Some are made from recycled materials and some can be recycled. However, if you’ve got a juice box that’s a mix, such as one made with plastic, foil, and cardboard, it may end up not being recycled. Once you mix materials it becomes tough to sort them out again.
Tomorrow’s tip; what to do instead of throwing items like these in the trash.
I was surprised by both plastic bags and plastic forks. Thanks, Jennifer. You probably just did my recycling center a favor. lol
Well, but I’ve heard of other recycling centers that take plastic bags though – maybe yours does. The best thing to do is ask your local community for a list of dos and don’ts. Most of the time they’ll have a website that lists that stuff too.
You are wrong! Aerosols are currently easily recycled – in the UK 95% of local councils accept them in the recycling scheme. Incidentally most aerosols contain around 25% of material that is recycled.
Peter, in New Mexico, the recycling center I lived by would never take anything aerosol, or things like plastic forks, same in California. In Oregon, the right recycling centers will take almost anything. That’s why I always note that you should check with your local centers – it would impossible to cover each area on a case by case basis. But now I’m curious statistic wise how many places will take them. Maybe I’ve been unlucky with centers?
But, I’m glad to hear you can, or actually that most of the UK can. That’s cool.