Just about everything is recyclable or reusable. However some items are just so easy to recycle/reuse and some recycling programs are so readily available that recycling is really a no brainer. This list will be comprised of twenty of the most common or easiest items to recycle or reuse. Please join in the green movement and do your part by recycling and reusing anything you can.
1) Paper products: Newspaper, Junk Mail, Sales Ads, Cardboard, Shipping Boxes, Phone Books, Catalogs. As long as the paper has not been soiled, especially by food products, then it is recyclable. Many recycling programs are widely available for paper products
2) Aluminum: Pie plates, Cans, Clean Foil, Other Aluminum or Scrap Aluminum. The good thing about aluminum is that recycling programs are widely available and if you have a large amount you can even make a small amount of money.
3) Glass: Bottles, Jars, Other Glass Containers. Most areas have glass recycling programs. Usually you are required to separate the glass according to color (ex. green, brown, clear).
4) Plastic: Jugs, Bottles, Jars, Containers, Bags. Some areas supply plastic recycling while others do not, check with your county for more information. Some plastics are easier to recycle and are more accepted than others. Some may not be accepted at all depending on your particular program. Plastics with recycling numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 are the most common types of plastics accepted for recycling. Plastics numbered 3 or 7 are more difficult to recycle and are not as widely accepted.
5) Food: Uneaten Veggies or Fruits, Rinds and/or Peels, Coffee Grounds. Anything from plants make good compost. Never use any meat or foods with animal byproducts (ex. cheeses, mayo, eggs). Start a compost pile or barrel at your house for these items and roughly 3 to 8 months later you will have amazing soil for houseplants or gardens.
6) Yard Debris: Grass Clippings, Leaves, Plant Stalks, Hedge Trimmings. These items also make great compost similar to food. Don't bag up fallen leaves for the trash man, turn them into productive soil. Mix any of these items with food to make excellent compost.
7) Batteries: Car Batteries, Alkaline Batteries. Some county landfills or transfer stations will accept batteries for recycling. Check with your county or state for battery recycling locations.
8) Appliances: Stoves, Washers, Dryers, Refrigerators. Some county landfills or transfer stations will also accept large appliances for recycling. You can also check with metal salvage companies or your county or state for more locations.
9) Electronics: Printers, Computers, Cell Phones, Ink Cartridges, Other Electronic Accessories. A good place to go to for more information on recycling these type of products at a local Office Supply Store or Electronics Retailer. Some items, like ink cartridges can even be donated to a non-profit group or organization for recycling.
10) Steel: Cans (from canned goods like veggies), scrap metal, car parts. Finding a good location for recycling may be a little tough but can also be lucrative, like aluminum.
11) Reuse Water: When you wash your hands or rinse veggies, collect the water and use it to water houseplants. Rain water can be collected in barrels and reused to water outdoor plants, gardens and lawns. The same water could even be used to wash a car.
12) Reuse Plastic Bags: Before recycling those plastic grocery store bags try reusing them anytime you need a bag for something.
13) Reuse Plastic Bottles/Containers: Instead of always buying new bottles of water try saving and reusing them before recycling them. Also, reuse plastic food containers many times before replacing them.
14) Reuse Plastic Spray Bottles: Instead of buying a new spray bottle each time you purchase a spray cleaner, try buying the bottle of concentrate without a sprayer and mix the solution into the spray bottle you already have. Keep your spray bottles labeled and you will always know which cleaner in in each bottle.
15) Reuse Plastic Cups: Keep any plastic cups you may get and reuse them to drink out of, for a pet food scoop or to start seeds/plants in.
16) Reuse Glass Jars/Containers: Keep glass jars to store small items in (ex. coins, nuts/bolts, matches). Glass is also a good way to store dried herbs from the garden.
17) Reuse Newspaper: Newspaper can be well reused for packing and to line bird/small animal cages.
18) Reuse Yard Debris: Sticks and other small sized items can be used as kindling to start a natural fire.
19) Reuse Old Magazines: Collect all of your old magazine issues and reuse them by passing them on or donating them to a Doctor's office or a non-profit organization.
20) Reuse T-Shirts/Towels/Fabrics: Instead of throwing those old t-shirts or towels away, reuse them by turning them into shop rags or cleaning/dusting cloths. You can also donate old used towels to an animal shelter or humane society.
I have listed ten recycling ideas and ten reusing ideas to help and inspire others with their own home recycling programs. Going green isn't so hard once it becomes regular or routine. Thank you for helping our one and only, Mother Earth. Happy Recycling.