7 Days of Recycling

7 DAYS OF RECYCLING To achieve our recycling goals, we need to act at an individual as well as community level. Here's a detailed plan on what we, as a community, can do on each day of the week to recycle our waste in a proper and streamlined manner. DAY#1 MONDAY PLASTIC Recycling plastic is the most troublesome because it's difficult to identify what can and cannot be recycled. To make it easier for consumers to identify different types of recyclable plastic, the Society of Plastic Industry (SPI) has devised a code. Look for a number from 1 to 7 surrounded by the three-arrow recycling symbol at the bottom of a plastic container. #2 is for HPDE plastics that include milk jugs, lotion bottles, etc. NOT ALL RECYCLERS ACCEPT all types of recyclable plastic. #1is assigned to PET containers such as soda and water bottles, detergent bottles, liquid cleaner bottles, etc. Number 1& 2 are the most commonly recycled. View the EPA factsheet for details on types of recyclable plastic. DAY#2 TUESDAY PAPER Both high-grade papers that are found in office environments as well as other types of papers and cardboard can be recycled. If you're wondering what happens to all the paper once it's recycled, it's used to make new paper and cardboard boxes. HIGH-GRADE PAPER Computer paper, copy machine paper, white notebook paper, white envelopes, manila-colored computer cards Ton OTHER TYPES OF PAPERS Non-white office papers, corrugated cardboard, newspaper, and any other clean and dry paper SAVES 19 RECYCLED PAPER TREES DAY#3 WEDNESDAY GLASS There are two categories of recyclable glass - color-separated and mixed color. The former has more market value than the latter and includes all container glasses that are separated into clear, green, and brown. The glass recovered for recycling is ground, after its non-recyclable parts are removed, and is used to make new glass containers. How long it takes for glass biodegrade in the natural environment? 4,000 YEARS IMAGINE HOW MUCH WE'LL BE HELPING OUR ENVIRONMENT BY NOT DISPOSING GLASS IN NORMAL WASTE DAY#4 THURSDAY COMPOST Don't start curling up your nose in disgust just yet. The process is pretty simple. It starts with collecting food scraps, yard trimmings, and non-recyclable paper. For the actual process of composting, we can make our own compost pile or buy a composter. DID YOU KNOW? Adding GARDEN SOIL to the compost YOU CAN CONVERT ALMOST ALL YOUR ORGANIC/BIOLOGICAL WASTE INTO MASKS THE BAD ODOR from the food waste. FERTILIZERS RICH IN NUTRIENTS DAY#5 FRIDAY A simple test to determine if the metal scrap you're dealing with is ferrous or non-ferrous is to get a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the metal, it is ferrous and if it doesn't, it's non-ferrous. The metal scrap can be taken to a scrap yard or a recycling facility. METALS NON-FERROUS Includes all other metals ranging from aluminum and lead to copper and brass. Certain scrap recycling facility like SIMS METAL MANAGEMENT buys both types of metal scrap. FERROUS Iron and other metals that contain iron such as wrought iron & stainless steel DAY#6 SATURDAY E-WASTE A lot of states have rules that bar mixing e-waste with other types of household trash. E-waste contains a number of toxic substances that make land-filling or burning it a hazardous option. So, it has to be disposed in a proper manner. Certain recycling facilities accept e-waste from households as well as commercial establishments. E-WASTE TYPICALLY INCLUDES. types of electrical and electronic items such as mobile phones, televisions, computers, kitchen appliances, white goods, toys, cables, etc. Check your local big box stores as some offer E-WASTE PROGRAMS DAY#7 SUNDAY Reuse - one of the three R's of green living. If we want to save our precious natural resources, we need to make reusing a lifestyle choice. Clothes are something that can be easily reused. The clothes that you want to discard can, in fact, be used by someone else...someone needier and less fortunate than you. CLOTHES WE CAN DONATE CLOTHES to national charities like the SALVATION ARMY or the GOODWILL Industries. ALSO BE GREEN BY PURCHASING SECOND HAND CLOTHING ONLINE We can also donate them at local CHURCHES or HOMELESS SHELTERS in our community. Twice, ASOS Marketplace, Material Wrld & Closet Swap are a few retailers specializing in reused clothing. Written by Anne Staley These are my seven days of recycling to make our community & workplaces cleaner, safer and more responsible. Visuals by WASTE WISE