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Simple Ways to Keep Recyclable Products from Ending Up in Landfills

If you want to protect the environment, then it is essential to make sure that recyclable products do not end up in landfills. Today, almost everything is recyclable, but you need to plan ahead to ensure that glass, plastic, paper and metal items are disposed of properly. Here are a few tips for making sure that you recycle at home, work and school.

Create Recycling Stations at Schools, Homes and Businesses

In order to recycle effectively, you should make it easy for everyone by having sorting stations available. A sorting station will have containers available to hold different types of products. Hopefully your child’s school already has a program in place, but if not help start one.It’s becoming more common, especially in more progressive schools. Some of the types of materials that you can recycle include:

  • Plastic – water or food containers
  • Glass – food containers
  • Paper – newspaper, writing paper, paper plates
  • Metal – aluminum foil or food cans
  • Electronics – old televisions and computers
  • Appliances – contain metal and plastic
  • Ink cartridges – plastic and other materials
  • Furniture – contains fabric, wood and metal
  • Textiles – fibers are used in new products

Learn Where the Recycling Centers Are Located

Your city will have recycling centers available where you can bring items that are sorted, cleaned and shipped to other locations for reuse in new products. Each recycling center has its own regulations about what it will accept, so make sure to understand these policies before loading your vehicle with bags of items. You might need to clean or sort products in a particular way in order for the recycling center to accept your bags of recyclable trash. 

Will Local Businesses Accept Products For Recycling?

Many local businesses will accept certain products for recycling. A nearby store might have a container to hold old plastic shopping bags that are recycled into new products. A cell phone store will accept your old cell phones to recycle the devices for individuals who need a cell phone in an emergency.

An electronics store will accept used batteries so that the dangerous chemicals from the items will not leach into the soil, and the same store might offer you a discount on a new computer when you bring in an old computer. Even Wireless providers are coming on board with their own initiatives for mobile device recycling. 

How to Get Rid of Hazardous Products

When you are cleaning a home or business, never put hazardous items into the trash. Some of these items can include:

  • Cleaning supplies
  • Paint
  • Oil
  • Batteries
  • Ink cartridges
  • Adhesives

It is possible for companies to refill ink cartridges or to break apart the items to reuse the different materials in other products. Alternatively, many hazardous products require specialized care to protect the earth’s air, water and soil from additional chemical contamination.

Teach Other People about Recycling Products to Protect the Environment

Many individuals don’t know how to recycle items in their communities, but if you do know how to do this, then teach other people more about the process. When someone knows how important recycling is, she will begin to make more of an effort to recycle as many things as possible.

Article Submitted By Community Writer

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