Recycling has been a part of mainstream knowledge since the 1970s, and most people are familiar with the principles behind the program. While imperfect, recycling programs worldwide go a long way in reducing raw materials energy consumption and are still very much an important part of our waste diversion efforts. While composting and overall consumption reduction efforts should come first, knowing how to maximize your recycling efficiency is also an integral piece of the climate puzzle. By reducing the contamination of our recycling plants, we can ensure that the energy used in the recycling process is being spent in the most productive way possible.
Let's start with what can be recycled. Aluminum, tin, steel. Ensure there is little to no food residue (Hennepin County suggests 95% clean as a general rule of thumb). Avoid tossing pressurized cylinders, electronics, and scrap metals. Minneapolis has solid waste programming in place for the bigger, bulkier items you may need to get rid of, such as the aforemention electronics and scrap metals. Find more information here. Cartons. Think milk cartons, juice boxes, and wine cartons. Toss the lids before recycling. If they’re dirty, give them a thorough rinse before tossing them in the bin. Glass. Most glass bottles and jars can be recycled, but be more cautious with glass that does not contain a product upon purchase; many of these contain strengthening additives that can interfere with the recycling process. Instead of throwing these out at all, try out a new craft or two (ideas here) to reuse this non-recyclable glassware. Plastics. Minneapolis accepts plastics #1-#5. Minneapolis is unique in that we have industrial composting facilities that can accommodate #7 plastics. However, #6 plastics still belong in the trash. Placing them in the recycling is counter-productive, as more energy will be wasted in the process of sorting them out than by simply throwing them away. Try to cut down on this waste by reducing your consumption of #6 plastics and by reusing or re-purposing them several times before finally tossing them. Cardboard cans. These come from a wide variety of products, including powdered drink mixes, refrigerated dough, and even baby formula. Do not recycle grease or wax containers. For a more comprehensive list of what can and cannot be recycled in Minneapolis, be sure to read this page with lots of helpful recycling information published by the city. Another strategy to increase your recycling efficiency is to avoid “wishcycling,” or putting things in the recycling bin without checking recyclability in the hopes that it will be recyclable. This can contribute to inefficient recycling processes, which can be more energy intensive in the long run than it would have been to toss it in the garbage in the first place. Unfortunately, the current rule of thumb is “when in doubt, throw it out.” This wasteful adage can be countered, however, by the reduction and reuse of household waste products. Remember that recycling programs vary from city to city. In Minneapolis, we are incredibly lucky to have curbside, one-sort recycling, but that is not the case in all cities across America. Remember to check for local recycling and organics recycling rules when traveling or visiting family. Following the city or county rules goes a long way in increasing recycling efficiency. If you don’t feel comfortable throwing things out that you could otherwise recycle (or compost!) at home, consider bringing a paper bag along to bring them home with you.
18 Comments
4/22/2021 06:31:24 pm
You made a good point when you shared that recycling has been helpful to reduce raw materials energy consumptions. My uncle just mentioned the other day that he is thinking of decluttering his garage so he can throw away all the useless appliances that no longer work well. I will suggest to him looking for a reliable place that can offer him to recycle his scrap metals.
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6/23/2021 01:05:36 pm
I like that this post reminded us to consider the material and proper method when recycling. My wife is looking to have cooking oil recycled. I will have her look into the proper ways.
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10/3/2021 10:23:06 pm
A very practical blog you got there, I wish recycling will be done in every community but sad to day it's the manufacturers fault still at all producing non renewable products in the market.
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11/10/2021 12:42:08 pm
It is good to know that aluminum can be recycled. My husband and I have collected a lot of aluminum cans. We will have to find a reputable scrap metal recycling service to take them to.
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12/3/2021 01:50:56 am
I loved it when you said that recycling has been a part of mainstream knowledge since the 1970s, and most people are familiar with the principles behind the program. We have had lots of cardboard in the office stocked for years. I'm glad they will be helpful this time for me and the environment. I need to find the most worthy recycling company in the country. This post is beneficial.
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12/6/2021 07:13:55 am
I have some old metal pieces that I'm not sure what to do with. It makes sense that I would want to get them properly recycled! I'll be sure to organize them properly before I turn them in.
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2/28/2022 07:58:18 am
Thank you for explaining some of the different metals that you can recycle. My husband and I have found lots of scrap metal when cleaning our garage. We'll be sure to recycle what we've found.
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3/8/2022 09:36:35 am
It's great that you elaborated on the importance of recycling the right materials! A few weeks ago, my aunt said she wanted to do something for our community. My aunt wants to start a recycling project and help people learn how to divide their trash, so I think she'd love to read your article! Thank you for talking about different materials and how to recycle them!
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3/25/2022 08:21:56 am
It got me when you shared that you should remove all food residue when recycling metal. My friend has been collecting metal scraps to have them recycled. I think he should bring them to a company that offers metal recycling services in exchange for cash.
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It's interesting to know that there are options wherein there is a system that would be able to handle bigger, bulkier items in certain areas. I will make sure that I will look for scrap metal yards that would have that system because it will be for the old car that I owned before. It has been taking a huge space in the garage, so I finally have decided to actually let it go this year.
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7/5/2022 03:22:33 pm
I greatly appreciate you talking about how to prepare things like steel, tin, and aluminum for recycling. I'm sure that these materials are all over the place here at home in the form of unused appliances and devices, and I want to properly send them to a site for them to reuse. I'll take your advice about this and have a recycling expert handle all of these things once we're done preparing them.
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9/27/2022 06:34:34 pm
I'm glad that you talked that since 1970s, the industry knows that recycling could help the economy. Last night, my uncle told me he was planning to dispose of his scrap metals but not in the wastes, and he asked if I had any idea what would be the best option to consider. I like this instructive article, I'll be sure to tell him that he can consult a well-known scrap metal recycling service as they can help with the proper scrap management.
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11/27/2022 06:27:59 pm
Great article! A lot will benefit from this. Good work!
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2/19/2023 09:48:16 pm
I'm grateful that you provided us with this useful knowledge. Please continue to update us in this manner. I've had a lot of fun reading your blogs about the recycling process, Scrap Mart. Ultimately, I'll be subscribing to your feed and looking forward to your next post.
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2/20/2023 07:05:39 pm
Recycling is an important activity that can help to reduce waste and conserve natural resources. However, it's important to understand the dos and don'ts of recycling in order to ensure that the materials are properly sorted and processed.
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3/27/2023 04:06:56 pm
I appreciate that you explained that one of the most important things to consider is to understand how to maximize recycling options to save our environment. My uncle told me yesterday that he planned to dispose of his scrap metals but not the waste to save the environment. Thanks to this informative recycling article. I'll tell him he can consult a well-known scrap metal recycling service as they can help with proper scrap management.
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