Recycled materials can be used to make art. That way it doesn’t end up in landfills.

When all this waste ends up in the landfills, it becomes a cause of air, soil and water pollution because they contain various harmful substances. Therefore, it is quite important to dispose of the waste in an appropriate way i.e. recycling. The good thing you will come to appreciate by knowing what is recycling, is that up to 60% of the waste that ends up in the dustbin can be recycled.

Through a proper recycling process, unused products are recycled and reused for making new products. Nowadays, there are a lot of recycling companies that take your wasted products off and pay you some prices for them. That means recycling gives you a chance to
make the money in return, as well as you take a part in saving the environment. [So, you could answer when asked “what is recycling”, that its a way of making money for some types of recycling!]

What Can You Recycle from Home?

Let’s have a look at what kind of materials can be recycled.

Electronics

Did you know approximately 170 million new electrical items are purchased in the UK each year? Yes, it is also a fact that when they become obsolete, they are disposed of in the landfills. That means they are hazardous to the environment. Hence, the great thing is that electrical devices such as computers, laptops, mobile phones, TVs, and cameras etc. also can be recycled and reused for making some new products.

According to a recent stat, there are more than 95 million old and unwanted mobile phones available in the UK that need to be discarded in an eco-friendly way. However, only 20% mobile devices are currently recycled and mobile phone recycling is beneficial not only for you but also for the environment. It can save energy, protect the environment, and recovers some precious metals.

So, open your drawers, you will have one or two old mobile phones as unwanted items.

Browse a top recycling company online and present your old phone devices for sale.

However, because of increasing demand for mobile phone recycling, it can be a daunting task to look for a right recycling company. Well, thanks to mobile phone comparison websites that have made mobile phone recycling easier than ever before. With a single click, you can get a fair comparison of top recycling companies and find out the topmost price for your mobile phone recycled. There is another case, if you want to earn some cash by selling your mobile phone, you can simply sell it to Companies that would pay you the most cash out of it.

Paper

Most of the paper products can be recycled such as newspaper, packaging items, books, business cards, and much more. Paper and card products make up the 5th of the usual household dustbin. More than 12.5 million tonnes of paper and cardboard are used in the UK each year and if every person in the UK recycles just 10% more paper, it would save at least 5 million trees per year. However, only two-thirds of paper is recycled, making it one of the significant materials recycled in the UK.

So, make a collection of paper products and go to a local recycler to recycle them. It will help you de-clutter your home and earn some cash.

Glass

The glass is another common material that can be recycled over and over again. According to some recent facts and figures, 1 recycled glass bottle has the potential to provide energy to a computer for about 25 minutes. Hence, each UK family uses an average of 500 glass bottles and jars each year.

5 out of every 6 glass bottles are dumped into garbage tins; it is not really good. So, everyone should contribute to glass recycling to reduce the glass waste in the country.

Collect all glass bottles and jars in a box and visit a local recycling shop to recycle them.

Plastic

Another common household item that can be recycled is plastic. According to recent data, approximately 275,000 tonnes of plastic are used per year in the UK that means almost 15 million bottles each day. Plastic products such as carrier bags and bottles that are tossed into the oceans kill about 1,000,000 sea creatures each year.

This is why you must consider plastic recycling instead of throwing the plastic waste in the trash bins. When you approach a trustworthy recycler for plastic recycling, you will get some cash in return.

Metals

Did you know in 2010/11, approximately 215,000 tonnes of metal cans were recycled in England with a worth of about £23.5 million? Yes, metal cans are 100% recyclable again and again.

Aluminium is also another metal that can be recycled. According to some stat, over 9 billion drinks cans (80% made of aluminium) are produced in the UK. In an entire year, a single drink cans can be recycled eight times, saving sufficient energy to produce 160 new cans.

Wow, it’s really amazing.

On average, each household uses more than 600 steel cans per year that means approximately 12.5 billion steel cans are used in the UK every year. The good thing is that all steel cans are 100% recyclable.

Therefore, everyone should consider metals recycling. Try to make a large collection of all kinds of metals and recycle them now to earn money.

What Can We Recycle?

If you’re planning on decluttering your home, don’t just throw away unwanted goods – find out what you can recycle with this informative guide!

Updated 6 May 2022

Why do we recycle? To put it simply: recycling is one of the most beneficial acts we can carry out to save and preserve our environment. Recycling is the process of gathering waste materials and processing them into new items that can be used again – so, the next question is: what can we recycle? Today, many different items and materials can be reprocessed, whether they come from our home or office. Many products now state whether or not they can be recycled; therefore make sure to look out for the universal recycling symbol. Before we go through a list of things we can recycle, there are several steps that can be taken to improve your recycling experience and help maintain a healthy environment for future generations.

When it comes to items that are unsuitableВ for the recycling bin (such as clothes and electronics), look out for any local charity shops or recycling centres thatВ will be willing toВ take them off your hands!

Recycling Tips:

Purchase A Recycling Bin

Buying a recycling bin will make your recycling experience at home much easier and more enjoyable. You’ll be able to separate recycled items from other waste within seconds.

Buy Recycled Items

You can purchase recycled items such as recycled paper, which helps reduce the amount of waste and demonstrates that recycled items are in demand.

What to Recycle

Clothes & Textiles

If you have any unwanted clothes, you can either pass them on to friends or relatives orВ take unwanted and used clothes to charity shops.

Phones & Computers

Many websites allow you to donate your unwanted phones. Many brands now accept their items back and will recycle them for you, so it’s recommended to check the brand’s recycling offers, too.

Electrical Equipment

Many electrical items can be recycled including hairdryers, fridges, and washing machines, to name a few. First, check with the manufacturer to see if they will take your items back and recycle them for you. You can also contact your local council or recycling centre.

What Can We Recycle At Home?

Below is a list of what to recycle at home:

Cardboard

Cardboard takes up a lot of space and is actually one of the main materials that can be recycled. Make sure to flatten all cardboard before recycling collectors pick it up.

Furniture

There are several websites that allow you to trade furniture with the community. Some charity shops also accept unwanted furniture.

Paper

Paper is one of the most recycle-friendly materials on our planet. From magazine to newspapers, books to junk mail, you can recycle a variety of papers by simply popping it in your recycling bin at home.

Food Packaging

A high number of foods and drinks are packed in materials that can be recycled. Milk cartons, juice boxes, and pizza boxes are just a few of the products that can be thrown away in your recycling bin. Again make sure to check the packaging for the universal recycling symbol as this will help you identify whether or not the material at hand can be recycled.

Metal, Glass, Wood & Plastic

Metal, glass, wood, and most kinds of plastic can be recycled. Before you dispose of any unwanted items double check that they are made out of the above materials. If so, place them in your recycling bin for collection.

Remember, recycling used and unwanted items is a fantastic cause and is easy to do! By following these recycling tips, we are able to save our planet and create a better and healthier future for our children and ourselves.

What Can I Recycle? And Other Common Recycling Questions

Before single-stream recycling was developed in the 1990s, recycling was a much more involved task, requiring the separation of recyclables like plastic, glass, and paper. In 2019, most Americans have access to single-stream (or “single-sort”) recycling, yet many still inevitably put recyclable materials in the trash rather than diverting waste. Recent findings show that 91% of plastic—which takes over 400 years to degrade—ends up in landfills or in natural environments as litter. This is likely, in part, due to a lack of general knowledge as to what actually can be recycled.

We’ve all been there, bussing our tables at a restaurant offering compost, trash, and recycling bins. And it’s a little embarrassing for many of us to admit that we don’t really know which items belong where, so it’s just easier to throw it all in the trash rather than get it wrong. A 2014 recycling survey found 28% of Americans who don’t always recycle say it’s because they aren’t sure which plastic items can be diverted.

However, if past waste diversion movements are any indication of how people can make deliberate changes for the betterment of the Earth and its inhabitants, then there’s hope. Just look at the “no straw” movement, which grew exponentially after awareness from the terribly sad video of the turtle with the straw stuck in its nose went viral. Awareness of how our waste impacts the Earth empowers us to make more sustainable choices.

In this post, we’re tackling the most common recycling questions, plus breaking down what is recyclable versus what isn’t.

Answering Your Recycling Questions

What is recycling?

Items that are recycled are turned into new products, rather than being thrown away as trash or littered. Recycling eliminates pollution and diverts waste from landfills. Single-stream recycling, specifically, means items don’t need to be separated by citizens or businesses but are separated in recycling processing facilities.

Is recycling really better for the environment?

An abundance of data has shown that, yes, it is. According to the United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), even recycling just one ton of office paper, for example, saves the energy equivalent of 322 gallons of gasoline.

What happens if I put an item that can’t be recycled in the recycling bin?

The recycling stream can become contaminated, which can damage equipment in recycling centers. To avoid this, it’s important to learn which items are accepted by your local recycling provider. Plastics are the most common recyclable items to not always be accepted.

If you’re a Texas Disposal Systems customer, you can learn which recyclables we accept here.

Do I need to separate my recyclables?

It depends on where you live. Contact your municipality to learn if your local program is single- or dual-stream.

Are plastic bags recyclable?

Yes and no. While plastic bags are recyclable, most single-stream recycling programs don’t accept them. The thin plastic film of plastic bags can get caught in sorting machinery and cause damages. You can decrease your use of plastic bags by opting for reusable bags, which are often sold at grocery stores.

There are still recycling options, however, if you forget your reusable bag at home or have old plastic bags you’d like to get rid of. Some retail stores, municipal recycling centers, and private recyclers accept plastic bags. Many grocers, for instance, have recycling bins specifically for plastic bags near their store entrances.

So what are those numbers on plastic items?

The numbers on a piece of plastic indicate the type of plastic the item is made from. The numbers are as follows:

Check with your municipality to learn which plastic types are accepted by your local recycling program.

Is aluminum foil recyclable?

Yes, many recycling facilities accept aluminum foil. The key here is to make sure the foil is clean and that it’s crumpled into a small ball. Like plastic bags, thin, laid out sheets of aluminum foil can potentially damage sorting machinery and technology.

Can I throw my recycling out in trash bags?

No. Many recyclers will throw away any recycling that’s in a regular trash bag and not recycle the recyclable items inside the bag. Again, like plastic bags, regular trash bags can also damage machinery in a recycling facility. To make sure your recyclables are disposed of properly, simply keep items loose in a bin rather than gathering in a bag.

What Can Be Recycled

While it varies depending on your local recycling provider, there are a few materials that are typically accepted:

What Cannot Be Recycled

Unless taken to a specialized recycling (or upcycling) center, these items should never be put in your recycling bin:

If you’re unsure whether or not an item can be recycled, reach out to your municipality for recycling guidelines. If you’re a Texas Disposal Systems customer, check out the Waste Wizard—a recycling search engine of sorts—to learn which materials and items we accept.

What Can You Recycle?

What can we recycle & how can we recycle it? Find out the answer to these simple, but critical, questions here so you can do your part for the environment!

Updated May 5, 2022

Many of us are now choosing to recycle our household waste in an effort to become more environmentally friendly, but there’s still a lot of confusion about what can, and what cannot, be recycled. The good news is that many different materials can be recycled, although what we can recycle at home, and what we can recycle at local recycle centers do vary.

Home recycling options will differ based on what your local council will accept, but generally you can recycle the following items at home:

Plastic Bottles – including mineral water and other drink bottles, toiletry bottles, and cleaning solution bottles

Cardboard – including egg boxes, cereal boxes, and old toilet roll / kitchen roll tubes

Paper – including magazines, newspapers, junk mail, flyers, and plain wrapping paper

Glass – including glass food jars, wine and liquor bottles, and old mason jars

Metal Tins – including softdrink cans, food cans, and tins made from steel or aluminium

Recycling these items at home really can make a huge difference to theВ environment. You can also do your part by recycling other materials, too. Old clothing and textiles, broken electronics, and furniture can all be recycled at your local recycling center.

Making plastic bottles from recycled plastic usesВ 75% less energyВ than it does to make plastic bottles from non-recycled materials!

How Can We Recycle?

Unfortunately, some of what we want to recycle may not be suitable for recycling. This is often because the material contains other materials or substances that cannot be made into recycled material. That’s why it’s so important for us to know how to recycle, and how to prepare our waste for the recycling process.

How to recycle plastic – Rinse with dishwashing liquid and remove spray nozzles

How to recycle paper and cardboard – Ensure any sticky tape / packing tape is removed

How to recycle glass – Rinse with dishwashing liquid and remove corks

How to recycle metal tins – rinse with dishwashing liquid, beware of sharp edges

What topics would you like to read about?

In the Philippines, we have several choices for how we dispose of our recycling. Scheduled recycling events at popular malls and establishments are one option, but we can also visit recycling centers and local junk shops, or arrange for special collections for larger goods.

Recycling Made Easy!

Recycling doesn’t have to be difficult. By organizing your kitchen and keeping your recycling bins tidy, doing your part for the environment is actually really simple. If you plan on popping to a local recycling center, or taking your waste to a weekend recycling market, it’s a good idea to keep similar materials together for ease. This means that when you reach the recycled paper bin, for example, you can toss your paper collection in without needing to sort through a big pile of cans and glass bottles!

Unfortunately, while many of us are making the effort to do our part, it’s estimated that around 60% of the waste we throw out could have been recycled. But why do we recycle? It’s very important that we learn more about what to recycle, and the best ways to recycle, to ensure we’re doing everything we can to protect the future of our planet and set a great example for future generations. For more tips, check out our other recycling article!

Do you want to learn which household cleaning tasks cause the most stress?В Then read our Heated Household data analysis.В