I always wondered if the sticky part of the Post-it made it difficult to recycle. All my questions were answered at the 3M Post-it site.
"Why won't my recycler take Post-it® Notes?
Recycling depends on both available technology and prevailing economics. Historically, some recyclers assumed that Post-it® Notes were difficult to recycle because of their "sticky" adhesive. This is not true. Any mill that accepts mixed-paper recycling can accept Post-it® Notes and 3M is working with industry associations to encourage the inclusion of Post-it® Notes in all mixed-paper recycling programs."
For more queries relating to the Post-it Notes, be sure to read through the Frequently Asked Questions.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Why Don't All Cities Accept All Plastics to Recycle?
After a friend read one my posts relating to deciphering the numbers on the bottoms of plastics, she came to me with a great question: Why don't all cities accept all the plastics (#1-7) and how can we find out which plastics our city will accept to recycle?
These are both valid questions. I came across a site that addresses these queries. Check out, http://tinyurl.com/5c4lq9
Overall, it all depends on your local solid waste management, so contact them to confirm what they will and will not accept. Another site I often go to is, Earth911.com . Here, you can look under plastics, type in your zip code, and they will list all the places within a particular mile radius, where you can recycle your #1-7 plastics.
These are both valid questions. I came across a site that addresses these queries. Check out, http://tinyurl.com/5c4lq9
Overall, it all depends on your local solid waste management, so contact them to confirm what they will and will not accept. Another site I often go to is, Earth911.com . Here, you can look under plastics, type in your zip code, and they will list all the places within a particular mile radius, where you can recycle your #1-7 plastics.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Recycle Glue Sticks and Bottles
Did you know those glue sticks you buy for your kids are recyclable? My daughters' elementary school started collecting empty Elmer's glue bottles and glue sticks which are then rinsed out and brought Wal-Mart starting Earth Day, April 22, 2008 through the end of the school year.
"More than 40 million students use Elmer's glue and glue sticks annually," said Terri Brown, Elmer's marketing services and communications manager. "By recycling Elmer's, the #1 brand of school glue, teachers and students can take pride in improving their communities. To provide teachers with all the tools to execute recycling, we have developed a classroom program with online support to keep students engaged and excited about the recycling project."
Visit the Elmer's Glue Crew Recycling Program Web site, http://www.elmersgluecrew.com/ to join (at no cost) or learn more about the program. Good to know: they will accept all brands of empty glue bottles and glue sticks for recycling, but they cannot guarantee that they will meet the guidelines for recycling these different types of plastics.
"More than 40 million students use Elmer's glue and glue sticks annually," said Terri Brown, Elmer's marketing services and communications manager. "By recycling Elmer's, the #1 brand of school glue, teachers and students can take pride in improving their communities. To provide teachers with all the tools to execute recycling, we have developed a classroom program with online support to keep students engaged and excited about the recycling project."
Visit the Elmer's Glue Crew Recycling Program Web site, http://www.elmersgluecrew.com/ to join (at no cost) or learn more about the program. Good to know: they will accept all brands of empty glue bottles and glue sticks for recycling, but they cannot guarantee that they will meet the guidelines for recycling these different types of plastics.
Friday, October 24, 2008
One Person's Trash is Another's Treasure
A big part of the recycling loop is "REUSE." I'm always lugging bags of outgrown clothes and toys to my friends' houses or donating them to charity. Both are very good recycling options. Clothing and toys are the obvious products families reuse. How about pots and pans, a table or a ladder? What if you are looking to acquire something, but don't have the extra cash?
A fantastic site to visit is Freecycle.org. Their goal is "to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community." Did you catch the term "gifting?" That means anything you donate or acquire is FREE. Simply send an e-mail to the members of your local Freecycle community and provide a treasure to another individual.
A fantastic site to visit is Freecycle.org. Their goal is "to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community." Did you catch the term "gifting?" That means anything you donate or acquire is FREE. Simply send an e-mail to the members of your local Freecycle community and provide a treasure to another individual.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Decifer the Plastic Recycling Numbers
So, do you think your plastic take-out food container is recyclable just because it has the chasing arrows symbol on the bottom? Talk about a misconception! This symbol with the number inside simply indicates the type of resins used to produce the product.
Once all your different plastic recyclables has reached the recycling plant, it is important that the plastic types are not mixed. Just a tiny amount of the wrong plastic can destroy the melt. That is why the Society of the Plastic Industry has come up with a code, or number, inside of a recyclable-looking triangle to allow recyclers to differentiate between the various types of resin, or plastic. To find out in more detail what the numbers mean, check out http://www.pslc.ws/mactest/work/recycle.htm.
The numbers range from 1 to 7; 7 being the notorious, NO RECYCLING POTENTIAL. Most water bottle lids are made from this #7, so remember to take off the lids before you throw your bottle into the recycling bin. Other plastic products you may purchase may be labelled with the #7, so be really sure you want it. You'll have to hold onto it for eternity since it is un-recyclable!
Once all your different plastic recyclables has reached the recycling plant, it is important that the plastic types are not mixed. Just a tiny amount of the wrong plastic can destroy the melt. That is why the Society of the Plastic Industry has come up with a code, or number, inside of a recyclable-looking triangle to allow recyclers to differentiate between the various types of resin, or plastic. To find out in more detail what the numbers mean, check out http://www.pslc.ws/mactest/work/recycle.htm.
The numbers range from 1 to 7; 7 being the notorious, NO RECYCLING POTENTIAL. Most water bottle lids are made from this #7, so remember to take off the lids before you throw your bottle into the recycling bin. Other plastic products you may purchase may be labelled with the #7, so be really sure you want it. You'll have to hold onto it for eternity since it is un-recyclable!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Recycle, Donate or Sell Your Cell Phones
How many old cell phones (minus the battery, of course!) does your child have hiding in their toy chest? Cell phones are one of the many electronics that people are starting to purchase on an annual basis. So if you don't want your child to play with your old one, where do you dispose or donate them?
Many stores, gyms, and community centers have boxes set up to collect old, used cell phones to donate to victims of domestic violence. A brother and sister from Massachusetts started a worthy program, Cell Phones For Soldiers, where they collect discarded cell phones and send them to soldiers around the world.
Little did I know, you can actually get cash (from a few dollars to over $100) for your old, used cell phone. Check out, http://www.cellforcash.com/index.asp. Simply, find your model cell phone, request a postage paid box, and send back the cell phone with its charger. They will verify all the contents and mail you a check. Cell For Cash has many models to chose from, but if your particular phone is quite archaic, you just may have to donate it. Cell For Cash has a variety of safe options for you to recycle your cell phone.
Many stores, gyms, and community centers have boxes set up to collect old, used cell phones to donate to victims of domestic violence. A brother and sister from Massachusetts started a worthy program, Cell Phones For Soldiers, where they collect discarded cell phones and send them to soldiers around the world.
Little did I know, you can actually get cash (from a few dollars to over $100) for your old, used cell phone. Check out, http://www.cellforcash.com/index.asp. Simply, find your model cell phone, request a postage paid box, and send back the cell phone with its charger. They will verify all the contents and mail you a check. Cell For Cash has many models to chose from, but if your particular phone is quite archaic, you just may have to donate it. Cell For Cash has a variety of safe options for you to recycle your cell phone.
No Sorting Needed...and You Get Cash?!
RecycleBank has come up with a revolutionary concept that entices people to WANT to recycle: combine all of our everyday recyclable items together in one large bin and get paid in the form of useful grocery and pharmacy coupons.
So far, this single stream recycling program is working in communities in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Nebraska, Maine, and New Jersey. Here's how it works:
"Each household in a RecycleBank area receives a bin with a computer chip in it. The household then fills the bin with paper, glass, plastic and metal--no sorting needed--and sets the bin on the curb. When the recycling is collected, an arm on the truck weighs the bin and uses the computer chip to record the weight. The data is added to an online account, and customers can log in to redeem their points each month for coupons and gift certificates.
"We generally see about a 100 percent increase in recycling in mid- to affluent neighborhoods," says CEO, Ron Gonen. "In lower-income neighborhoods, it can be up to 1,000 percent, because the recycling rates are so low there.
"If you think about solar or wind power or buying a hybrid, they're very important, but today they're not something that's accessible to the average person," he said. "I look at recycling as the average thing that every person and household can do."
Especially if it puts cash in your pockets."
So far, this single stream recycling program is working in communities in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Nebraska, Maine, and New Jersey. Here's how it works:
"Each household in a RecycleBank area receives a bin with a computer chip in it. The household then fills the bin with paper, glass, plastic and metal--no sorting needed--and sets the bin on the curb. When the recycling is collected, an arm on the truck weighs the bin and uses the computer chip to record the weight. The data is added to an online account, and customers can log in to redeem their points each month for coupons and gift certificates.
"We generally see about a 100 percent increase in recycling in mid- to affluent neighborhoods," says CEO, Ron Gonen. "In lower-income neighborhoods, it can be up to 1,000 percent, because the recycling rates are so low there.
"If you think about solar or wind power or buying a hybrid, they're very important, but today they're not something that's accessible to the average person," he said. "I look at recycling as the average thing that every person and household can do."
Especially if it puts cash in your pockets."
Friday, October 17, 2008
Reuse, Donate or Recycle Your Hangers
Luckily, hangers are one of those items that we don't have to discard on a daily basis. But when it's time to get rid of them, what do we do with them?
Wire hangers can be either recycled as scrap metal or donated to your local dry cleaners, as long as they are in good shape--literally! Unfortunately, many plastic hangers are not always recyclable, so you really can't throw them in with your other plastics. If you've constructed enough fairy wings or mobiles with your children, you can always connect with other people on freecycle.org to see who needs extra plastic hangers in your area. Some plastic hangers do have an identification number (a number inside the recycling symbol) on them so this way you know if your local recycling program will accept them.
Green Heart Global is a sustainable product development and manufacturing company, that has come up with a fantastic solution: 100% recyclable paper clothing hangers and 100% PET Plastic Hangers. Be sure to check out the site at http://www.dittohangers.com/index.php
Wire hangers can be either recycled as scrap metal or donated to your local dry cleaners, as long as they are in good shape--literally! Unfortunately, many plastic hangers are not always recyclable, so you really can't throw them in with your other plastics. If you've constructed enough fairy wings or mobiles with your children, you can always connect with other people on freecycle.org to see who needs extra plastic hangers in your area. Some plastic hangers do have an identification number (a number inside the recycling symbol) on them so this way you know if your local recycling program will accept them.
Green Heart Global is a sustainable product development and manufacturing company, that has come up with a fantastic solution: 100% recyclable paper clothing hangers and 100% PET Plastic Hangers. Be sure to check out the site at http://www.dittohangers.com/index.php
What to do With Used Aluminum Foil and Zippered Plastic Bags
Since I've made an earth promise to drastically cut down on my use of aluminum foil and zippered plastic bags, I not only save money, but am helping lessen the impact of the already over-flowing landfills. I'm a member at EarthPromise.com, where they provide an easy way for people to make, track and keep promises about actions that will benefit the earth. This community is a caring and positive voice for the environment. You should definitely check it out.
Every so often, though, I do need to use aluminum foil and zippered plastic bags. They are both easily recyclable!! Aluminum foil (a.k.a. Tin foil) is made of aluminum, not tin. So, if possible, rinse off, wad it up and throw it in with your bottles and cans. For those zippered plastic bags, (i.e. Ziploc), just cut off the top zippered portion, rinse out, and toss in with your other plastic items.
Every so often, though, I do need to use aluminum foil and zippered plastic bags. They are both easily recyclable!! Aluminum foil (a.k.a. Tin foil) is made of aluminum, not tin. So, if possible, rinse off, wad it up and throw it in with your bottles and cans. For those zippered plastic bags, (i.e. Ziploc), just cut off the top zippered portion, rinse out, and toss in with your other plastic items.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Reuse Those Juice Pouches!
"Reuse" is part of the three part eco-mantra we hear so much about today: reduce, reuse and recycle. Many old products can be reused and made into useful new merchandise.
Take, for example, the impressive handbags, pencil cases and lunch bags made from different types of drink pouches. Thanks to TerraCycle , Capri Sun and the organic drink company, Honest Kids, they have found a way to keep billions of those non-recyclable drink pouches out of the overflowing landfills. Once you join the Drink Pouch Brigade, TerraCycle will not only create funky, useful bags to tote around, but they will donate up to $.02 per pouch to a charity of your choice.
For more detailed information and see what other everyday packaging you can collect, check out, http://www.terracycle.net/index.htm
Take, for example, the impressive handbags, pencil cases and lunch bags made from different types of drink pouches. Thanks to TerraCycle , Capri Sun and the organic drink company, Honest Kids, they have found a way to keep billions of those non-recyclable drink pouches out of the overflowing landfills. Once you join the Drink Pouch Brigade, TerraCycle will not only create funky, useful bags to tote around, but they will donate up to $.02 per pouch to a charity of your choice.
For more detailed information and see what other everyday packaging you can collect, check out, http://www.terracycle.net/index.htm
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Recycling Bottle Caps
Just when I thought I was doing my part by tossing my water bottles into a recycling recepticle, I find out the bottlecaps need to be removed. I've read that some workers are required to remove the caps prior to crushing, so why not help them out and untwist?! Unfortunatley, not all the bottlecaps are recycleable, so you might as well remove them all and either find a crafty use for them or bring them in to a place like Aveda that collects plastic bottlecaps to recycle into new products.
The article in greenbiz.com, simply explains Aveda's nationwide recycling cap program. Even the comments below the article have some informative information that's worth reading.
The article in greenbiz.com, simply explains Aveda's nationwide recycling cap program. Even the comments below the article have some informative information that's worth reading.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Finally a Solution for Those Dead CFLs
Just read about an easy way to dispose of those CFLs. Since they contain small amounts of mercury, you cannot toss them out with your regular garbage. Next time you make a Home Depot run, bring those dead CFLs along with you to recycle. Check this out from an article in Scientific American Earth 3.0 Special edition (http://www.sciamearth3.com/)
Dead Bulb DepositoryEveryone’s rushing to replace old incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which last longer and use far less electricity. The bulbs contain tiny amounts of mercury, however, so tossing them in the garbage when they do finally burn out poses an environmental hazard. Most trash collectors won’t take them. To help, Home Depot is now accepting used CFLs at all its 1,970 building supply stores. A few other retailers such as True Value and IKEA are also taking the dead lamps.
Dead Bulb DepositoryEveryone’s rushing to replace old incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which last longer and use far less electricity. The bulbs contain tiny amounts of mercury, however, so tossing them in the garbage when they do finally burn out poses an environmental hazard. Most trash collectors won’t take them. To help, Home Depot is now accepting used CFLs at all its 1,970 building supply stores. A few other retailers such as True Value and IKEA are also taking the dead lamps.
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