What to Recycle Quick List - A Recycling Revolution

What To Recycle

If you are unsure of what to recycle, start small, start easy.

The following list describes items that are typically accepted at most recycling centers and curbside pickup and have the least amount of "rules":

	Aluminum Cans (you all know these, the Coke, Pepsi, and Sprites of the world)
	Steel Cans (soup cans, veggie cans, coffee cans, etc. and you don't even need to remove the labels) hint: a helpful mantra to remember the first two is "The cans can (be recycled)!"
	Newspaper (OK, so I'm not going to insult you with a description for this one
	Magazines and slick inserts (after you are finished with that People magazine and all those catalogs and Wal-mart ads that arrive in the mail, they can be recycled)

The next list of what to recycle describes items that are accepted on a regular basis, with some exceptions, and a few more rules:

	Corrugated Cardboard (shipping and packaging boxes, usually identifiable by a squiggly layer of paper sandwiched between sheets. Used pizza boxes are often NOT accepted)
	Paper and Paperboard (office paper, notebook paper, cereal boxes, non-Styrofoam egg cartons, some pre-packaged food boxes. Some paper items like paper milk cartons and drink boxes are lined with wax or plastic and are often not accepted)
	Plastics (milk jugs, shampoo bottles, detergent bottles, vitamin bottles, plastic soda and water containers etc. Most centers will only accept those plastics labeled with the PETE 1 and HDPE 2 symbols. These can generally be found molded into the bottom of the containers. If you can't identify the type of plastic, don't include it. Most facilities also require that you remove the cap since it is usually made of a different type of plastic. Some facilities will accept additional plastics, so if you are so inclined, check with your local recycling center.)
	Glass (beer bottles, wine bottles, pickle jars, jelly jars, etc. Occasionally a center will accept only certain "colors" of glass. Light bulbs, Pyrex, ceramics, and mirrors are NEVER accepted. Glass is becoming less accepted because of the potential of worker injuries due to broken glass.)

Wow, even that simple list seems somewhat overwhelming. Don't worry. You can start small and build as you feel more comfortable. Remember, Every little bit counts! When you are ready to move beyond the basics, I'll be ready for you. To help get you there, I've included a link to a quick list of what to recycle that you can hang on your refrigerator or even tape to the top of your recycling container and a sheet of stickers that you can print and adhere to your recycling bin.

A What to Recycle Quick list

Download Stickers for your bin
Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Formatted for Avery Stickers 3111.

So now that you have started a collection of recyclables, what do you do with them?

Greener Choices Search Engine

Search for more information on making Green Choices in your life.

More Basic Information on Recycling

Recycling Basics
The amount of information and seemingly endless facts about recycling is overwhelming. Here you can find the recycling basics to get you started.

Recycling Cheat sheet
A simple cheat sheet that you can print and hang on your refrigerator or even on your garbage to help remind your family.

Where to Recycle
So now you know what to recycle what do you do with all those recyclables? Click here to learn where to recycle.

Recycling History
Provides the story behind the recycling symbol. How it was designed, why was it designed, and who was the mind behind the arrows universally associated with recycling.