How to Recycle the Right Way

Recycling is the process of taking materials that are discarded into the trash and repurposing them for other functions. By increasing your recycling practices, you can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or littering our planet. You also work to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions by reducing your levels of waste. As a recycling center in Orlando, we work to educate our community on the proper ways to recycle. These are a few tips to help you recycle the right way.

Set Up Certain Bins

You should create recycling bins designated for different purposes. Many people have bins of different colors that organize the types of materials suitable for recycling.  For example, you may have a blue bin for all the normal recycling products, like paper, cardboard, plastic, and glass. Other bins can be designated for other purposes, like compost and food waste. By organizing your recycling bins, you make it much simpler for collection.

Consider Reusing and Upcycling

There are other ways to reduce waste in your home without recycling. For example, you may want to reuse certain products and materials for other purposes in your home. Glass jars make excellent pencil holders or coin collectors. Invest in reusable materials, like water bottles and straws, that can be washed and used time and time again. You may also want to upcycle your clothes by donating them or offering them to friends and family.

Know What You Can (and Cannot) Recycle

By understand the list of materials that are acceptable for recycling, you can become accustomed to the right practices. The most common recycled materials include newspapers, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, cardboard, and magazines. Be sure to note that you cannot recycle certain materials. The restricted list includes greasy food containers, used coffee cups, combined materials, lightbulbs, organic waste, and plastic bags. When you are uncertain if something can be recycled, talk to your local recycling center.

Ask about Bulk Pickup

Not all recycled materials are small. Some larger, bulky items may need to be specially picked up by your local recycling center. When you are getting rid of large items, like mattresses, appliances, or old cars, you should arrange for a pickup of these items so they can be repurposed. Often times, these items can be scrapped for their materials or refurbished for similar purposes.

Avoid Recycling if You are Uncertain

If you are uncertain if the material is recyclable, you should avoid putting it in the bin. Instead, set it aside and ask if it is right for recycled. If you happen to recycle materials that are not properly recyclable, you may contaminate the entire contents of your bin. This means that your efforts will be wasted. Instead, talk to your recycling center to ask about proper procedures for questionable materials.

By following these tips, you can increase your recycling efforts and start recycling the right way. As you increase your recycling efforts with the help of our recycling center in Orlando, you can leave less of a carbon footprint on the planet. Contact us to hear more recycling tips today.