Green Challenge #5 – Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

This month’s green challenge is simple, but important.

One of the best ways we can help our environment is by reducing waste, reusing products and recycling. Now a days, it’s almost a no-brainer. Most, if not all, communities recycle, at least that is the case here in New York State. Here is a useful list of things that can be recycled.

Paper and Cardboard

Magazines, fliers, phonebooks and catalogues
Newspapers
Corrugated cardboard

Plastic – According to EarthEasy.com, plastic cannot break down in a landfill.

“Plastic goods are assigned different numbers to grade them for recycling: #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) for containers, #4 (LDPE) for bags, #7 for mixed plastics such as polycarbonates that are not recyclable. Almost all recycling centers accept plastics #1 and 2.” (source)
Plastic bottles – some states have a deposit on plastic bottles, meaning, you can take them back at a grocery store for a refund. If your state doesn’t plastic water bottles can be recycled with your other plastic recyclables
Plastic shopping bags – these can be recycled in most stores in NYS–just look for an area in the front of the store where they accept plastic bags for recycling

(source)

Glass

Some glass is recycled by color (clear, green, brown)
Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLS) should be recycled. CFLS are the more environmentally-friendly lightbulb that contain mercury. (Check out this link to find out how to dispose of them properly.)

(source)

Aluminum, Steel and Copper

Cans
Aluminum foil
Paint cans
Copper/Bronze/Brass

Electronics

Computers and other electronics
Cellphones and batteries

Recycling Resources

Your local municipality is your best bet in determining what you can put out with your recyclables and what they will accept to recycle.
Earth 911.com
EarthEasy.com
EPA.gov

Other ways we can reduce, reuse, and recycle:

Donate old books magazines to nursing homes, libraries or laundry mats instead of throwing them in the trash
Instead of throwing old clothes away donate to the salvation army or have a “Sharing party/accessories exchange” where you and a bunch of friends get together to exchange unwanted clothes or accessories. A piece of jewlery you don’t wear anymore may be just what your friend is looking for!
Unsubscribe from junkmail or catalogues you don’t need. I get tons of fliers for places I don’t really shop at–so to get rid of them I just call and unsubscribe to their mailing list. The same thing goes for e-mail!
Reuse glass and plastic (this ties into my plastic waste challenge)
Buy recycled products (paper, plastic, etc.)

Things I’m going to do for part of the challenge:

Unsubscribe from catalogues to reduce paper waste

Bring my plastic bags to the store to be recycled

Buy recycled products whenever possible

Donate unwanted clothes/accessories and buy less new clothes/accessories

Always use resusable containers, plates, cups and silverware at work

Leave a comment telling me what you plan on doing as a part of this challenge!