Can I Put Broken Glass In My Recycling?

Through the recycling collection process alone, glass jars and bottles generally tend to break. If they survive the collection, the sorting process will almost certainly do the trick.

Due to its sheer weight and density, glass makes up a large part of residential, commercial, and industrial recycling. As delicate of a product as glass is, it can break or crack during the shipping process. It is almost impossible to prevent.

How Can I Keep Food Waste Out Of My Trash?

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide for having the potential of causing or continuing global warming, is created by rotting food disposed in a landfill as it decomposes. 

Methane is also a flammable gas that can become dangerous if allowed to build up in concentration.

Should I Recycle Junk Mail Or Shred It?

It is not widely agreed upon as to how much junk mail Americans receive each year, but all are in
agreement that it is entirely too much. Catalogs, insurance offers, magazines, coupon books, and credit card offers, just to name a few.

Some say that the average amount of junk mail delivered to each Americans is around 41 pounds. In fact, a whole organization has been formed around this theory called, well...41pounds.org.

Are Window Envelopes Recyclable?

Windowed, or more commonly referred to as “window” envelopes, were patented by Americus F. Callahan of Chicago, Il in 1902 and introduced shortly thereafter.

The original idea was that the film covering the window opening be made of a thin layer of rice paper. This has since been replaced by clear plastic, but the general design of the envelope has remained virtually unchanged.

Are Store Receipts Recyclable?

Whether or not an item is recyclable is sometimes a cut and dry, black or white, yes or no answer. Water bottles and aluminum cans, yes; soiled napkins and items containing food or product residue, no.

Unfortunately, gray areas exist considering the vastness the types of materials used in the production of…well, everything.

Plastics, for example, have so many different densities that some are recyclable and some are not, by conventional means.

Where Did the Recycling Symbol Come From?

The recycling symbol is actually an internationally recognized symbol denoting that an item is

recyclable by conventional means. It is comprised of 3 chasing arrows in an unending single-sided looped surface, also called a Möbius strip, representing continuity.

Believe it or not, the recycling symbol is considered to be in the public domain and is not trademarked. It can be copied, transformed, or manipulated to fit any needs.  It can also be printed or portrayed in any color.

A contest for high school and college students, sponsored by the Container Corporation of America, was held to find a universally accepted symbol for recyclable items. This came as a result of worldwide attention to environmental issues which ultimately brought about the first Earth Day.

Are Paper Cups Recyclable?

Disposable paper cups are made from a combination of materials. A thicker layer of paper makes up the majority of its contents, along with a thin layer of wax or plastic film.

Wax or plastic layers keep the cups from leaking liquid, regardless of whether they are for hot or cold beverages. Although this feature makes paper cups convenient and effective, it also renders them unrecyclable by most conventional means.