Have you ever stopped to think about the people on the other end of your recycling? That is, the people who sort, process, and remake those recyclable materials into everyday usable products? Most people stop thinking about their recycling once they put it out on the curb but knowing just a little bit about how recycling works helps you make it easier for recycling plants to process materials.
Not all recyclable materials are created equal – some are easier to reuse than others. We’ve created a list of some items that are the easiest for recycling companies to process to help you consider what you purchase and later put in the can each week.
Electronics
You can bring old electronics to retailers like Staples or Best Buy. They will either wipe your data and resell them if possible or simply recycle the materials. Either way, be sure you wipe your data or ensure that data destruction is part of the service the recycling entity is providing. There may be resources for electronics recycling in your local community, or your city may have a particular day when they are willing to collect electronics as part of the recycling service, too. Do some research to find out because there are numerous recyclable materials in electronics!
You can recycle items like:
- Cameras
- Cell phones, E-readers, and tablets
- Computer peripherals like mice and USB sticks
- Connected home devices
- Laptops
- Media players
Steel and Aluminum
Steel and aluminum are both 100% recyclable, and steel is actually the most recycled material in North America at a rate of 88%. Aluminum cans are 100% recyclable, and recycled aluminum doesn’t lose any of its structural integrity. It’s also 90% more energy-efficient to use recycled aluminum than to manufacture new. Steel and aluminum are both high-value recyclables.
In 2015, 54 billion aluminum cans were recycled in the United States. However, Americans are still throwing away enough aluminum every three months to match the aluminum needed for every commercial airplane in the U.S.! So although a lot of good recycling is happening with these materials, there needs to be more of it. Baking tins, curtain rods, foil, spray cans, and aluminum siding all contain recyclable aluminum.
Did you know? Recycling the steel components of just one car reduces greenhouse emissions by an equivalent of 150 gallons of fuel. There is so much unharnessed power and energy efficiency that can be gained by efficiently and thoroughly recycling steel and aluminum products.
Paper & Cardboard
Paper is one of the most commonly recycled materials. Recycling paper reduces the need to harvest more trees to make new pulp. Have you seen the stickers on paper towel dispensers in restrooms with the words “These Come From Trees” on them? One of those stickers can save up to 100 lbs. of paper every year! When people are reminded that their simple actions can do a lot of good for the environment, they can make a big difference. According to the American Forest & Paper Association, 80% of U.S. paper mills utilize recycled paper materials.
Because online shopping increased during the pandemic, there was a huge influx of cardboard that was being recycled. While that was good, but some plants got so overwhelmed that they stopped taking more cardboard. This was an extenuating circumstance. So people got creative and recycled the cardboard around their house, like layering it in planting beds. Please remember to always flatten the boxes when you do send your cardboard to the local recycling plant. This makes it easier to fit them into your bin, but also makes it easier and more efficient for the people who process the cardboard.
Unfortunately, paper accounts for approximately one-third of the municipal waste stream in the United States alone. A full 80% of discarded paper products ends up in landfills, where they decompose and produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Paper decomposition is the most significant source of methane in landfills. A United Nations Report published in May, 2021, found that reducing methane emissions is the single most important and effective action that will fight global warming.
Did you know? A single run of the Sunday New York Times is the equivalent of approximately 75,000 trees.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Plastic Bottles
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles are easily recyclable, and since they’re so widely used all over the world, it’s important to always recycle them. Some examples of PET bottles are one- and two-liter clear soda bottles, bottled water, liquor, hand soap, and antacids. PET is the most widely recycled plastic in the world – 1.5 billion pounds of PET are recycled each year in the U.S. alone. Despite being a highly recyclable material, it is estimated that the average American household discards 80% of the PET it uses! Sadly, it goes into a landfill which is a shame because it’s a high-value recyclable material that can be recycled into many products. PET can be recycled into new containers, carpets, clothing, protective packaging, industrial strapping, automotive parts, and even construction materials. And it takes 66% less energy to recycle PET than it does to manufacture new PET. This decreases greenhouse gases.
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
High density polyethylene is one of the most valuable of recyclable materials and the only recycled plastic we use. It has the strongest molecular bonds of the plastic resins and can be recycled over and over again without degrading. HDPE is widely used in consumer products because of it’s strength which enables products, especially liquids, to be shipped without breaking open. The example most widely known is plastic milk jugs, but it’s also used in detergent and shampoo bottles, cleaning products, and vinegar. Restaurants and institutions also get food in 5 gallon buckets made of HDPE.
Shop Polly Products
Polly Products was an environmentally-friendly brand before it was cool or sustainability was even a buzzword. We understand that environmental activism and the creation of sustainable technologies are not just a fad. All of our outdoor furniture products are made from 100% recycled plastic. You can read more about our green promise here.