Recycling tops the list for things people can do to help the environment. Many cities have gotten on the bandwagon and provide recycling services along with garbage pickup. Before you jump into the recycling craze, there are a few things you need to understand about not recycling. Top Things Not to Recycle
Cardboard and paper are expected items in any recycling container, but cardboard pizza boxes are one of the items that you need to skip. Not only are they contaminated with oils making them impossible to clean and reuse, but that same oil will also ruin all the other paper products which it touches. This also pours over to any paper products used to wipe up other materials (like paper towels).
Do not recycle.
Wet papers of any kind can cause issues when it comes to recycling. Make sure the papers that you are including are completely dry because the wet fibers cause problems for the recycling process.
Another paper product that you might not thing about is the brightly colored paper. Those neon colors or deep reds will do the same thing to recycled paper that a red sock will do to your white laundry. Keep the dyed papers out of the recycle pile.
While we are talking about papers, you should also skip all of those papers that have a covering or film. Wax paper, juice boxes and other coated papers are not suitable for the recycling process. Paper products with any substance are glue, such as sticky notes or stickers, should be thrown away instead of recycled.
Do not recycle!
Glass bottles are recyclable, but not all glass can be reclaimed in the recycling process. Most household glass, such as windows, tableware or vases have a much higher melting temperature than the typical jar or bottle. These household items are designed to withstand being reused and therefore will not mix well with the other glasses that will melt at the lower processing temperatures.
Mirrors also fall into this category along with light bulbs and any broken glass (because of the dangers involved with sorting through broken glass).
Avoid recycling any products that have mold growing on them. This mold could potentially transfer over to the products made from the recycling. This is one of the reasons that many centers ask you to rinse out your recycling before putting it in the bin.
Grocery bags and most clear bags cannot be recycled at a processing plant, but they can be reused by stores in the area. Check with your local thrift stores to see if they reuse plastic bags. Plastic bags can also be used around the house until they are worn through.
Do not recycle!!!
Toxic products and their containers should never be recycled. Oil, tyres and even vinyl siding should be disposed of with special care. Aerosol cans may be metal but many have contained toxic chemicals. Batteries are another product that should never be recycled but should be disposed of in a way that will not allow them to leak into the ground.
Recycling does not have to be a challenge. It can help to reduce the amount of waste put into the environment, but recycling can also be easy on the wallet. Some locations pay for your recyclable items and some cities reduce your garbage rates if you participate in the recycling programs that are offered.
The great thing about recycling is that even those items that cannot be recycled in the traditional way can be repurposed. Finding new ways to use old items can be the best form of recycling around. Even the items that are on the list of things that you should not recycle can be given new life through a new purpose.
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