As a McKinney renter, you may be taking into account what you can do to live more sustainably. For many people, sustainable living starts with recycling plastic, cardboard, or other materials. But as a matter of fact, what some people don’t realize is that not all of these materials can be recycled. Just because something is formed out of plastic, glass, metal, or cardboard doesn’t mean that it is recyclable. And throwing non-recyclable items into a recycling bin is a considerable waste of time for you and the processing center, likewise. Here are several effective pointers to enable you to recycle the right way.
Plastics
To find out which plastic materials are recyclable and which aren’t, experts urge that you start going by container shape. Basically, plastic bottles, jugs, jars, and tubs can be recycled. Just make it a point to rinse out and dry each container just prior to putting it in the recycling bin.
Also you have to be aware, the list of plastic items that cannot be recycled is quite lengthy–and a lot may actually surprise you. For instance, plastic utensils, and straws are not recyclable, but surprisingly plastic food containers and water bottles normally are. Other items that cannot be recycled are Styrofoam, plastic shower curtains, syringes, and medical waste.
In addition, plastic shopping bags, shrink wrap, and other similar kinds of plastic wrap should not be brought to your recycling center. These items clog up the machines and will definitely end up in the landfill anyway. Rather, they can oftentimes be recycled separately at drop-off locations in grocery stores. One last matter, do not put recycling in bags – the bag will cause problems at the processing center.
Glass
Recycling glass can be more difficult to do than most people presume because processing centers don’t accept many types of glass. In several places, the centers don’t accept any glass at all. In others, only certain types of glass are accepted. See to it you find out the guidelines at your local processing center just before putting glass items in the bin.
On the other hand, various types of glass are just not recyclable at all. These are comprised of windows and mirrors, eyeglasses, vases, oven-safe ceramic cookware or dishes, and fluorescent light tubes. Given the fact that these things have been treated with coatings or contain hazardous chemicals, they cannot be safely recycled and must be disposed of by different means.
Metal
Much like with glass, not all processing centers permit metal for recycling. Mostly, if you have metal items you’d prefer to recycle, you’ll need to know a place specializing in metal recycling. Some regular processing centers will not take metals like car parts, propane cylinders, aerosol cans, clothes hangers, and so on.
Exactly the same way, old televisions, and electronics cannot just easily be forwarded to your local recycling center. The electronic components of these items make their lot more complex than most recycling centers can handle. On the contrary, try to look for a local electronics shop that will accept your old electronics. Certain companies will take old electronics, including cell phones and tablets, that are already broken or no longer used.
Cardboard, Paper, and Wood
Multiple kinds of cardboard, paper, and wood can be safely recycled, while others should just be thrown in the trash bin instead. Newspapers, notebook paper, and magazines are all definitely accepted at some processing centers. The same thing applies to flattened packing boxes, cereal boxes, and food delivery boxes. Untreated wood items are mostly okay, depending on what items your local recycling center can take.
In addition, it’s imperative to note that certain cardboard, paper, and wood types are not recyclable. This includes grease-soaked pizza boxes (a little bit of oil is okay), waxed paper cartons, and treated wood, involving painted or stained furniture. Books and some varieties of paper are moreover not recyclable, so it’s essential to separate your paper items conscientiously prior to placing them in your bin.
As a renter, you can bring about a lot to assist your community by recycling correctly. Although if your current neighborhood doesn’t actually help fulfill your desire for more sustainability, Real Property Management Legend can certainly help! You can always check out our listings online or call at 214-227-2404.
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