We all want to do our part to help the planet. But when it comes to recycling, it’s hard to know what actually goes into the green bin. If you’re taking the first step by being part of more than 32% of the people who recycle in the United States, you might as well take a few more minutes to make sure your paper, plastic, and glass products are actually processed.
Although each county or city has its own set of guidelines, there are some general rules to follow regardless of your zip code. To get you started, we have mapped a few errors that you could to do when it comes to putting items in the trash and how to fix them. Whether it’s how to properly dispose of dead batteries or buy products made with rPET plastic, such as the new DASANI bottles, read all about the solutions to your daily recycling problems.
If it’s covered in food, it goes to the trash
Recycling centers rely on clean containers to breathe new life into items. Think about it: empty, dry items prevent mold, odors, and unwanted creatures from contaminating your recycling. But you don’t need to scrub that pint of plastic berries like a dirty dish you’re planning on eating from – just take a few seconds to give it a quick rinse to get rid of any food residue. Those grease-soaked cardboard pizza boxes go in the trash, though.
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Unzip your hardcover books
It seems that hardcover books are naturally destined for the recycling bin – after all, they’re mostly made of paper – but they’re actually pretty hard to recycle. To do this, you will need to remove the binding to throw away and recycle the pages only. If your book is still in decent condition, consider donating it to your local library, leaving it in your neighborhood’s small free library, or passing it on to a friend.
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Batteries are a big no
While today’s technology doesn’t rely so much on single-charge batteries, you may have some old and worn ones stored in the back of your garage or basement. Batteries contain toxic metals and, if not managed properly, can pollute the water systems and soil in your district. Fortunately, your hygiene department can host special disposal events or have delivery points for this type of waste. If not, many big-name grocery stores and hardware stores also offer take-back programs for batteries that have reached the end of their life, so check with your local dealers to see if they offer these services.
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Buy recycled plastic bottles
When you survey the beverage department, look for brands that use recycled plastic, also known as rPET, for their packaging. DASANI is a brand that takes this important step by producing water bottles made from 100% rPET plastic. * DASANI estimates that this innovation will reduce over 25,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions in the next year alone, which has the same effect more of 6,000 off-road cars. This innovation will extend the life of what was once single-use plastic by transforming it into a sustainable and reusable solution.
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Order your items
If single-stream recycling isn’t available in your district, it probably means you need to sort the waste. Before leaving the bin on the sidewalk, take a few minutes to sort the recyclable materials into the appropriate plastic bags. For example, New York City requires its residents to separate cardboard and mixed paper from plastic, metal and glass. If you’re not sure what goes where, check your district’s health department website for directions.
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Recycle those plastic bags
It seems like every family has a lot of bags tucked under the sink. These plastic bags are technically classified as a plastic film and are not recyclable. Instead of throwing them in the trash, recycle the bags! Reuse them for those little trash cans around the house, to put shoes in a suitcase, or even as a shower cap for your hair between washing days.
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Throw the take-away and freezer containers
Not all paper boxes are the same. If you look closely, most freezer food boxes and take-out containers have a heavy wax or plastic coating – think: fried rice containers, ice cream boxes, and most disposable coffee mugs. There is no way for recycling centers to separate the fibers, which prevents these items from getting a new life. However, juice, milk and soup cartons can still be processed, so throw them in the bin.
* DASANI bottle caps and labels are not made of 100% rPET plastic.
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See how DASANI is working to reduce its environmental footprint
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