Recycling, Reusing and re-purposing. They kinda seem like the same thing right? Well, technically they’re not! They have some similarities but they’re also quite different. Here’s the scoop.Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects.  Recycling can prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce consumption, thereby reducing energy usage, air pollution and water pollution. Wikipedia Recycling is great. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all about recycling as an option. But, its not necessarily the best option. While it’s great that we have found ways to turn our waste into something else, or even the same thing with recycled materials, it still requires a lot of energy. In other words, it’s better than sending things to the landfill, but recycling should be a last option, just before the garbage can and ultimately landfill. For those of us who are environmentally conscious or looking for ways to better care for the planet, we need to get back to reusing and re-repurposing. Many commonly discarded items, the most common being clothing, are readily reusable in their current form.  So, instead of tossing an item in the trash can or recycling bin, consider other ways it might still be usable. If not to you, perhaps consider donating so that someone else can use it.  When items can’t be reused, for example something that is broken and can’t be fixed for its original intended purpose, we need to find ways to re-purpose them. Re-purposing is the process by which an object with one use value is transformed or redeployed as an object with an alternative use value. Wikipedia Here’s a few reasons why we all should reuse or re-purpose whenever possible: 1. It’s less expensive: We can reuse items like grocery bags, paper (use the other side), boxes, ribbons, wrapping paper, and packaging “peanuts”.  In the process, we save ourselves the cost having to buy these items. If you still want to/have to buy something, consider buying used items and save money. This too, will conserve resources and prevent them from winding up in the landfill. 2. It uses less energy: When we recycle, things have to be heated up, melted and reconstituted into whatever it becomes. So, a lot of energy is used when we recycle. That said, if items aren’t particularly useful to us anymore, we can find other people, who could use them. That’s when donation is a good option. 3. It causes less, or no, pollution: As I’ve already said above, recycling requires so much energy that it creates its own share of pollution. Reusing and re-purposing doesn’t create pollution. Items can be used as, perhaps for another purpose or by someone else without causing any further issues for the planet. 4. It encourages quality over quantity: When we know that we aren’t going to throw something away and buy a replacement, we are inclined to buy something of higher quality, something that will last and something we actually need. So when buying something new, make sure its made/built to last a long time. 5. It’s more responsible: Reusing and re-purposing gives us more control of the waste we create. It’s not just being tossed away and eventually going into landfill. This, in turn, makes us more conscious of having to deal with our stuff. More importantly, when we reuse and re-purpose, we are reducing our consumption. 6. It’s environmentally friendlier: Reusing and re-purposing is one small step toward creating a healthier environment. That isn’t to say we shouldn’t ever recycle, but we could all do a lot better. Shopping at secondhand stores is a great way to reuse and re-purpose. Donating those items you no longer need or want is a also great way to avoid creating unnecessary waste. 7. It’s a lot of fun: Re-purposing can be fun. Step out of your comfort zone and think of new ways to use old things. It shakes things up and gives things new life. The options are limitless. Get creative and have fun.

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. It is an alternative to “conventional” waste disposal that can save material and help lower greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling can prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, thereby reducing: energy usage, air pollution (from incineration), and water pollution (from landfilling).

While most of us try to do what we can to recycle, more often than I’d like to admit, I see people putting all the wrong things in the recycling bins. So, here’s a few “Do’s and Don’ts” about recycling if you really want to do your share to protect the environment.

ITEMS THAT CAN GO IN THE BLUE BINS:
Paper: All clean dry paper, including:
• Computer paper
• Ledger paper
• Arts and craft paper
• Unwanted mail
• Flyers
• Telephone books
• Note cards
• Newspaper
• Magazines
• File folders
• Paper bags
• Post-it notes
• Catalogs
• All envelopes, including those with windows

Cardboard: All cardboard boxes and chipboard, including:
• Cereal boxes
• Tissue boxes
• Dry food boxes
• Frozen food boxes
• Shoe boxes
• Detergent boxes
• Paper towel and toilet paper rolls
• Cardboard boxes (broken down and flattened)

Cartons: All refrigerated, shelf-stable, aseptic packaging, including:
• Fruit juice boxes and cartons
• Orange juice cartons
• Milk cartons
• Wine boxes
• Cereal boxes
• Heavy cream cartons
• Egg substitute cartons

Metals: All aluminum, tin, metal, and bi-metal cans, wiped out if possible, including:
• Soda cans
• Juice cans
• Soup cans
• Vegetables cans
• Pet food cans
• Pie tins
• Clean aluminum foil
• Empty paint and aerosol cans
• Wire hangers

Glass: All glass bottles and jars, wiped out if possible, including:
• Soda bottles
• Wine bottles
• Beer bottles
• Spaghetti sauce jars
• Pickle jars
• Broken bottles

Plastics: Empty plastic containers, wiped out if possible, including:
• Soda bottles
• Juice bottles
• Detergent containers
• Bleach containers
• Shampoo bottles
• Lotion bottles
• Mouthwash bottles
• Dishwashing liquid bottles
• Milk jugs
• Tubs for margarine and yogurt
• Plastic planters
• Food and blister packaging
• Rigid clamshell packaging
• All clean plastic bags (grocery bags, dry cleaner bags, and film plastics)
• All clean polystyrene products (plates, cups, containers, egg cartons, block packaging, and packing materials)
• Plastic hangers
• Non-electric plastic toys
• Plastic swimming pools
• Plastic laundry baskets
• Car seats (cloth removed)

ITEMS THAT SHOULD NOT BE PUT IN THE BLUE BIN:
If the following items are put in the recycling container, there’s a likelihood of contaminating the other clean materials. Placing a non-recyclable item in the recycling bin often results in the entire bin getting tossed in the trash. Here are some items that should be left out of the recycle bin.

Contaminated Paper: Heavily soiled papers or bags with oils or food waste.

That old pizza box may be made of cardboard and it might even have a recycling logo on it, but that doesn’t mean it belongs in the bin. This is because old pizza boxes, like so many other used products, get dirty during their lifetime and lose their recycling qualities. Contaminants like grease and glue will actually disrupt the processes needed to extract raw materials and will ruin an entire batch of materials intended to be recycled. When sanitation workers find a single contaminated product, in order not to contaminate the larger batch, they will toss the entire load of recycling into the trash.

• Food covered plastic cups
• Food covered cardboard
• Used paper towels
• Used paper cups/plates
• Shredded paper
• Colored Construction Paper

Glass:
• Window glass
• Mirror glass
• Auto glass
• Standard light bulbs
• Crystal
• Ceramics

Miscellaneous Materials:
• Cloth/fabric
• Mini blinds
• Kitchen utensils
• Lawn furniture
• Garden hoses
• Rubber tires
• Construction materials, including asphalt or concrete, wood and wood products

Electronic Waste:
• All electronic devices
• Electrical cords and wiring
• Electric or battery-operated toys
• Appliances
• Compact fluorescent and LED light bulbs
• All batteries (including car batteries, household batteries, and rechargeable batteries)

E-waste is accepted at the curbside by special appointment or by drop-off at S.A.F.E. Centers and Mobile Collection Events.

Hazardous Materials:
• Syringes and needles
• Medical waste
• Drugs (pills, liquids, gel caps, vials, and injectables)
• All partially filled aerosol cans and containers for cleaning fluids, automotive fluids, pesticides, oil-based paint, garden chemicals, and pool cleaners

Household hazardous waste (HHW) can be taken to S.A.F.E. Centers and Mobile Collection Events.

NOTE: Danger to Recycling Machines:
Discarded items undergo a lengthy process before they can be reused. There is a tremendous amount of sorting that needs to be done before products can return to a raw material stage. The machines that do this work break down just like any other machine that might be used. This means that workers need to take special precautions with what they place in them to prevent any potential damage.

So, when it comes to recycling, when it doubt, leave it out. For more information about recycling, go to: https://www.glad.com/teachable-trash/what-can-and-cannot-be-recycled/#yE7lc8IKvey2Iual.99

Of course, there are other ways to recycle as well. For example, you can re-use items many times over before discarding (ie. plastic water bottles and plastic bags)

You can also use something for a purpose other than that item’s intended purpose (ie. an egg crate can serve as a great way to store earrings)

Give something to someone else who can use what you don’t want or need so it doesn’t wind up in the trash.

There are countless ways to recycle. I just wanted you to be more aware of the Do’s and Don’ts that we either never knew or perhaps just forgot.

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Thank you!