Recycling : Recycling Tips

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Reject, React
Close the Loop, Buy Recycled

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Reject, React

          The supermarket is indeed an exciting place, with an ever-increasing selection of tempting products.  But when it comes to evaluating and choosing grocery products, select those that cause minimal impact on the environment.  Here are five important "R's" to consider... Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Reject and React.

Reduce

• Buy what you need and use what you buy
• Don't buy products that are excessively packaged or wrapped
• Single bag, instead of double bag your groceries;  Better yet, bring your own canvas or mesh bag
• Purchase durable rather than disposable or one-time use products
• Buy in bulk, it's more economical and lasts longer
• Choose simple products containing the least amount of bleaches, dyes and fragrances

Reuse

• Reuse plastic and paper bags or return them to the store for reuse or recycling (check store policy)
• Reuse plastic, glass and aluminum containers to store items (nails, change, leftovers)
• Look for products in reusable containers or for which concentrated refills may be purchased

Recycle

• Look for  products packaged in recyclable materials (refer to Mercer County's Recycling List)
• Look for products made from the highest content possible of recycled paper, aluminum, glass, plastic and other materials.

Reject

Be an environmentally conscientious consumer by avoiding products which are potentially harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly, are "over-packaged," or are manufactured by companies that do not have good environmental records.

React

Contact manufacturers either in writing or by calling the "800" number listed on the package to voice your concerns about excessive packaging, or let them know that you have noticed and appreciate that they are doing something positive for the earth.

Every Purchase You Make Counts!!

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Close the Loop, Buy Recycled

          Like many other Americans, you collect and sort items that can be recycled.  That's good, because you help your community reduce the amount of garbage going to the landfill.  But putting items out for collection or dropping them off at a local center is only the first of three steps in the recycling process.  It may surprise you to learn that what you BUY is just as important as saving the things your recycling collection center takes.

To Market, to Market

          Today, approximately 21% of our trash is recovered annually for recycling.  Where do theses millions of pounds of recyclables go after collection?  Manufacturers use them to make new products for the marketplace.  This step is one that YOU need to support if recycling is to remain part of the solution to the country's garbage issue.

Why Should I Buy Recycled?

          You "close the loop" when you buy items or packaging made from recycled materials.  They have now come full-circle:  from bag or bin to a manufacturer, to the store shelf, and back to your home.  And after using the item, you can start the loop again by saving it for the local recycling program.  When you buy recycled, markets are created and a use is assured for recyclables being collected in your community and in thousands of others.  Manufacturers will respond by continuing to use recyclables in their products.

          Without informed consumers and a ready market for products made of recycled materials, local recycling programs will become more costly and fewer recyclables may be collected and processed.  More reusable material will end up in landfills, and communities will need to deal with an increased amount of garbage.

How Do I Find Them?

          Products and packaging made from recycled material are everywhere--in stores that sell groceries, office supplies, auto parts, and everything in between.  Recyclables are transformed into an amazing variety of new products.  Plastic milk jugs return to yards and parks as plastic lumber and picnic tables.  Steel food cans return to the hardware store as nails and screws.  Newspapers become egg cartons.  There's no limit to the things that can made from recyclables.

          Many products are identified as recycled or partially recycled on the label or on the product itself.  Others may contain recycled material but may not be identified.  For instance, there's a good chance that the glass containers, aluminum and steel cans, paperboard boxes and plastic detergent bottles you buy are made of some recycled material.

          Some products and packaging also have labels describing the amount of "pre-consumer" and "post-consumer" waste that was used.  "Pre-consumer" waste is also known as "manufacturing waste," and includes any scraps, trimmings, over-runs, etc., from the manufacturing process.  "Post-consumer" waste is a product or other material that has served its intended use and has been discarded and then collected for recycling.

Many Happy Returns

          Steel food cans-
          Appliances, auto parts, construction beams.

          Aluminum cans-
          New soda cans, siding for your house.

          Paper-
          New writing and office papers, building insulation,
          packaging.

          Plastic bottles and milk jugs-
          Plant pots, plastic lumber, can lines, lawn furniture.

          Glass containers-
          New glass packaging, decorative tiles, paving
          material.

Written by Keep America Beautiful (KAB), Inc.

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