Recycling

Recycling guidelines can vary by location, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with your local program to ensure you're recycling correctly. To help reduce contamination, rinse items like food containers, bottles, and cans before placing them in the recycling bin. Avoid putting recyclables in plastic bags, as most facilities can't process them, leading to them being sent to the landfill. Keep paper and cardboard separate from plastics and metals, and never include non-recyclable items like plastic bags, greasy pizza boxes, or broken glass, as they can spoil an entire recycling load. For electronics such as phones, computers, and batteries, find special collection events instead of recycling them with regular materials. Be mindful of the recycling symbols on items, as the numbers indicate the type of plastic and whether it's accepted locally. Avoid recycling soiled paper products like napkins, tissues, or paper towels, and make sure glass is clean and separated from other recyclables to prevent injury from broken pieces. Ultimately, aim to reduce waste by focusing on minimizing consumption and reusing items to decrease what needs to be recycled.