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Common Recyclables
There are many ways we can help the environment. Recycling has been a common practice for most of human history, with recorded advocates as far back as Plato in 400 BC.
The first real recycling program was introduced in New York City in the 1890s. The city's first recycling plant was built in 1898.
The environment needs our help and we have a responsibility to help. Below are commonly recycled items and information on them.
There are many ways we can help the environment. Recycling has been a common practice for most of human history, with recorded advocates as far back as Plato in 400 BC.
The first real recycling program was introduced in New York City in the 1890s. The city's first recycling plant was built in 1898.
The environment needs our help and we have a responsibility to help. Below are commonly recycled items and information on them.
Batteries
One of the hardest items to recycle is household batteries. Batteries
vary in size which means each kind requires an individual recycling
process. Additionally, older batteries contain mercury and cadmium.
Mercury and cadmium are harmful materials which must be handled with
care. Most counties and cities have proper recycling programs to dispose
of batteries. For additional information contact your local town hall or
public works department.
Fact
Over 3 billion dry cell batteries are sold each
year in the U.S.
Batteries contain many toxic and dangerous materials such as mercury, cadmium, and lead.
Batteries contain many toxic and dangerous materials such as mercury, cadmium, and lead.
Electronics
Every year thousands of computers and other electronics are dumped into
landfills. Some older electronics often contain dangerous elements such
as lead and mercury that can if left uncared for end up contaminating
our soil and water supply. There are many companies that will pick up
these items from your household for a minimum cost. In addition, these
items in many cases can be donated to non-profit organizations, helping
the charity, the environment and you.
Fact
As many as two million tons of used electronics,
are discarded each year.
128 million cells a year are retired.
128 million cells a year are retired.
Paper
Paper is recycled by transforming it back to pulp
and combing it with newly harvested wood. As the recycling process
causes the paper fibres to breakdown, each time paper is recycled its
quality decreases. Almost all paper can be recycled today, but some
types are harder to recycle than others. Gift wrapping paper is not
recycled. This type of paper is of very poor quality and is expensive to
recycle. The most common form of paper recycling is newspapers.
Fact
During any given year an average adult receives 41
pounds of junk mail.
If all our newspaper were recycled, about 250,000,000 trees each year would be saved.
If all our newspaper were recycled, about 250,000,000 trees each year would be saved.
Plastic
Plastic is one of the hardest items to recycle.
The unique challenge plastics hold is the number of different
types of plastic there are. Each type of plastic item has its own “resin
identification code.” This code is used to identify and recycle the
item. This makes recycling plastic an expensive ordeal.
Fact
Scientists believe that plastics will take
hundreds of years to degrade fully—if not longer.
Plastic bottles make up approximately 11% of the contents of landfills.
Plastic bottles make up approximately 11% of the contents of landfills.
Non-ferrous metals
The most common non-ferrous metal is Aluminum. People use aluminum
everyday: soft drink cans, pie plates, foil, siding, gutters, car
radiators, beach chairs, computers. Aluminum is everywhere and it is
one of the easiest items to recycle. It is a sustainable metal and can
be recycled over and over again.
Fact
Every three months, Americans discard enough
aluminum to completely rebuild every single commercial airplane in
America.
Recycling a single can of Coke saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours.
Recycling a single can of Coke saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours.