Nov
9
Recycle more plastics on America Recycles Day – and all year long
November 9, 2015 | Leave a Comment
Want to help recycle more plastics? In celebration of America Recycles Day (November 15), Plastics Make it Possible offers some quick tips to get you started.
Nearly all Americans have access to a plastics recycling program, which allows us to pitch in and reduce our environmental footprint. Recycling can help prevent valuable plastics and other recyclables from going to waste. According to Keep America Beautiful (KAB), which sponsors America Recycles Day, recycling can help conserve natural resources, reduce waste, prevent pollution, save energy, and create jobs.
Here are some tips to help recycle more plastics on America Recycles Day and beyond:
* Recycle all you can. You likely use a wide variety of plastics every day, such as beverage bottles, milk jugs, yogurt and cottage cheese containers, condiment jars, and more. It’s important to understand which types of plastics are collected for recycling in your community. Check with your local community or trash hauler for a list of recyclables, or visit KAB’s iwanttoberecycled.org and enter your zip code.
* Look beyond the kitchen. Recycling today is more commonplace in the kitchen, but there’s probably a wide range of recyclable plastics in other parts of your home, too. From your bathroom, bottles and containers for shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, body wash, and mouthwash likely can be recycled at curbside. The same goes for detergent and cleaning product bottles in your laundry area. Placing small recycling bins or receptacles in various rooms—and maybe even in your car—can help make it easier to recycle everything you can.
* Include caps and lids. Screw the caps back on plastic bottles when recycling, and also toss plastic lids in the bin – recyclers want those, as well.
* Remember plastic bags and wraps. Plastic grocery bags and similar items can be dropped off for recycling at more than 18,000 participating grocery and retail stores across the country. You can include plastic bags from dry cleaning, produce, bread, newspapers – and even zipper bags. And remember to bring your plastic wraps from products such as water bottles, diapers, napkins, and more. Just make sure bags and wraps are clean and dry, and drop them in the storefront recycling bin before shopping.
* Seek out recycled plastic products. It’s easier than ever to find products made with recycled plastics, which help keep plastics from going to waste. For example, long lasting decking can be made with plastic bags, kitchen tools can be made with yogurt containers, and patio furniture can be made with milk jugs. Even soft durable fabrics for stylish clothing can be made with used beverage bottles.
So pledge to recycle more plastics and other materials – on America Recycles Day and beyond.
For more information and tips on plastics recycling, visit PlasticsMakeItPossible.com.
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