3 Things You Never Thought to Recycle, But You Should
In a recent blog post, we told you about the San Francisco municipality’s ability to bring streamlined recycling to its constituents. The spokesperson for the city’s Department of Environment, Debbie Raphael, said “We’ve never been closer to eliminating our need for that black (trash) bin,” in a quote to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The idea of not having a trash bin is probably a foreign concept to most people. We know how to recycle plastic bottles and cans, but what about all of the stuff that isn’t clean or easy to put into the recycling bin?
Skeptics of recycling are quick to point out when programs are not created efficiently the costs can outweigh the benefit to the environment. But most people understand the many environmental benefits of recycling, and the challenge becomes making it cost effective for taxpayers.
Municipalities like San Francisco have deployed efficient curbside recycling with an expanded list of recyclables to include everyday garbage like newspaper wrappers. But getting rid of your trash been completely? That’s crazy talk, right?
Maybe Not
People who are dialed into recycling, like Debbie Raphael, know that there are a number of unconventional recycling programs sponsored by corporations that pride themselves on reuse of products and overall sustainability. Because these programs are paid for by corporate America and nonprofits, taxpayers don’t foot the bill.
Perhaps with the right combination of government and business involvement, the idea of not having a trash can isn’t so radical, after all.
Here Are 3 Unconventional Recyclables and the Programs That Make Them Possible
Outdated Technology
In today’s tech-obsessed world, it seems like the next hot thing doesn’t stay hot for too long. Even moderate technology users end up with a lot of excess. Apple products, cell phones, VHS tapes, batteries and even holiday lights are among the tech-junk that you can recycle.
Check out these links to get rid of your tech-trash:
Perishables
When you think about the things we consume on a daily basis, the last thing that comes to mind is recycling. But the EPA suggests donating unspoiled food to neighbors in need rather than allowing it to become food waste in landfills. That’s because 20% of a landfill’s contents is food waste, topping off at up to 35 million tons. Many of the items we take for granted and throw away are still fresh and could be donated instead.
In addition to limiting food waste, another way of recycling perishables is properly disposing of cooking oil. Grease should never be poured down a drain. What happens is the grease and oil cause build up in the sewers which can contaminate drinking water and cause backups.
To avoid this public health hazard, many municipalities implement oil recycling. Check the waste management website of your city to find a program near you.
Did you know you can recycle unused prescription drugs, too? For more information on all of the above programs, check out the links below.
Running Shoes
For the runners out there thinking about upgrading to the newest kicks, Nike has a program called Reuse-A-Shoe. You can send any old sneakers back to Nike and they will recycle them into a variety of courts for children’s sports around the world! It’s easy, good for the environment and encourages kids to develop skills like confidence and leadership. To learn more about Reuse-A-Shoe check out the link below.
Cash Out with Your Trash Out
In addition to the programs named in this article, businesses and municipalities around the world offer a number of recycling programs for a varied many items. If you want to learn more about recycling, contact your local government, Google how to recycle the item you are looking to get rid of, or try Freecycle, a website for recycling just about everything.
For more tips on how to have a healthy, sustainable, chemical-free life for you and your family, follow our blog.