Recycling 101

Not too long ago, recycling brought to mind the crushing and bagging of three months worth of aluminum cans to haul to the warehouse where one could collect their worth – usually somewhere between four dollars and some change – enough to buy a few 6-packs of soda to begin the recycling cycle all over again.

Today, recycling is almost all inclusive and is much simpler. Most communities now provide curbside recycling for items such as plastic, glass, paper, aluminum and tin. Also along with the proper recycling receptacle, homeowners are supplied a calendar indicating which items will be picked up on which days – so really all anyone has to do is be able to remember the days of the week. And virtually anything -- from tires, computers, batteries and paint -- to used motor oil and fluorescent bulbs can be dropped off at a local specialty recycling facility.

Recycling has taken a front seat in environmental awareness as we have all come to the realization that there is not an infinite supply of the resources. And there is not enough land to dispose of all of these products after they are spent, so recycling has become a way of life, while providing both convenience and environmental protection.

Plastics recycling is probably the most common – but may also be the most confusing due to the many different varieties of plastics on the shelf. As such, plastic manufacturers have designed a resin identification code. The code, located on the bottom of the product consists of a number encircled by arrows to relay its components to consumers. Listed below is a breakdown of those numbers and a sample of some of the products on which they are commonly found...more