The Plastic Straw Ban in Full Effect

According to recyclenation.com, the plastic straw ban went into effect in Seattle, WA on July

1st, 2018.

In a previous article titled, “ Grasping at Straws”, it was noted that,
“Every year 50 million plastic straws from fast food restaurants chains contribute greatly to a landfill full of plastic. Plastic recycling is a green idea that allows to reuse straws and turn these plastic objects into fabulous recycled crafts and artworks for home decorating.”

Recycling Facts 2018

1. "Only about one-tenth of all solid waste in the United States gets recycled.

2. Landfills are among the biggest contributors to soil pollution – roughly 80% of the items buried in landfills could be recycled.

3. Although 75% of America’s waste is recyclable, we only recycle around 30% of it.

Can I Recycle Vinyl Siding?

When most people think of recycling, products like aluminum, plastic, cardboard, and paper come to mind. Materials like vinyl begin to become more questionable as a recyclable item.

“Vinyl is not a natural substance but is a synthetic man-made material. It is a type of plastic that is made from ethylene (found in crude oil) and chlorine (found in regular salt). When processed, both the substances are combined to form Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) resin, or as is commonly referred to - Vinyl.”

What Is Upcycling?

According to upcyclemagazine.com, upcycling is the process of "taking something that is no longer
needed or wanted and giving it new life as something that is useful or creative". The term upcycling surfaced in the mid '90s and gained popularity in 2002 when William McDonough and Michael Braungart published the book, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.

How does upcycling differ from recycling? There are some similarities between the two, but some distinct differences as well.