What Happens to the Things I Recycle?

This is probably something you have thought about if you recycle on a regular basis. It might seem like a rather "grade school" question, but on the last garbage night, I found myself wondering just how much of what we put into our 3 (full) recycle bins can be re-used. Well, I've done some browsing, and here is what I have come up with. . . .

Almost all day to day paper products can be usefully recycled. Sometimes things like boxes and paper can be remade into new boxes and new paper that is just as good as the original material! Basically, the news paper or printing paper you recycle today, might end up being the news paper you read or the printer paper you use tomorrow. Here is a chart from Keep America Beautiful Inc. which shows in detail how paper recycling has risen in the past few years. This chart paints a promising portrait of the future of paper recycling, and it is one more step towards a greener tomorrow.

Personally, the things I find most often in my recycling bin are glass and plastic bottles, and aluminum cans. Well, interestingly enough I discovered that the recycling of aluminum, one of the most easily recyclable resources has actually decreased since the 90's! Luckily, the aluminum cans of today are less dense than those of past years, and so more cans can be made from the same amount of aluminum today. However, this is no excuse for us to slack in the area of aluminum recycling! So keep at it! There is no reason to waste anymore landfill space than is necessary!

As far as plastics go, I discovered that much recycled plastic actually becomes raw material used by the textile industry. Most of it is used to create more plastic bottles and containers, but there are many uses for recycled plastic products, as recylced plastic can also be used to make things like this park bench. Disappointingly, the amount of plastic recycled each year does not compare to the amount which ends up in landfills, and seeing as how a plastic bottle is completely non biodegradable (which means, under normal circumstances, it will never decompose - no, not even after a million years), we as a society need to make a real effort in this area.

Finally, glass, is often used to make - you guessed it - more glass. While other materials are added to recycled glass, not having to use all new materials when producing glass containers has major environmental advantages. However, I did not realize that there are certain types of glass which cannot be recycled, and in fact should be kept out of the recycling bin! As it turns out certain types of glass products can actually "contaminate" the recycling process, click here for more detailed information. Some of these non-recyclables include ceramic ware, used light bulbs and glass from windows and mirrors, not to mention your everyday drinking glass (this came as a surprise for me, as I have thrown the occasional broken glass into our recycling bins). But check out that link for a more complete listing of glass products which you should not attempt to recycle, as well as a more complete list of substances which you should recycle!

In conclusion, the next time you are wondering how much of an impact your recycling efforts are really making, and the trashcan seems a lot nearer than the nearest recyclables drop off center, make the extra effort to put your used goods back into a useful state rather than just taking up precious and over-used landfill space! Recycling is a global effort in which we all must take part if we hope to make a difference! Now you know; Keep the Planet Green!