Recycle anything, part II
Not sure how to recycle something but want to save the earth? Here are tips from the October issue of Real Simple magazine to help you do just that. This post covers the latter part of the alphabet. To read the first part of this story click here.
Items that you can't recycle are listed at the bottom.
Paint - check www.earth911.org to find a paint recycling center near you.
Pizza boxes - If you rip out the spots where grease has soaked into the box you can recycle the rest. The grease can ruin the recycled paper if it begins to decompose.
Printer ink cartridges - the story compares them to gas tanks. They don't break, they just run out of ink. Unfortunately, when you throw them out they take 450 years to decompose. Find an office store that offers a discount for refills of used cartridges.
Recreational equipment - Stuff that can be used can go to Goodwill or Salvation Army. You can also donate it to Sports Gift, which gives gently used sports gear to needy kids.
Sneakers - drop them off at...
...Nike stores or mail them to Nike Recycling Centers, c/o/ Reuse-A-Shoe, 26755 SW 95th Avenue, Wilsonville, OR 97070. Nike somehow turns them into courts for different sports around the world.
Toothpaste - Aluminum tubes can be recycled with your cans, even if they have a little paste left in them.
Umbrellas - Remove the fabric and handle and recycle the metal frame. Plastic ones are not accepted.
Wine corks - Plastic ones go in the trash, but real corks can be decomposted or help turn them into flooring and wall tiles by mailing them to Wine Cork Recycling, Yemm & Hart, Ltd. 610 South Chamber Dr, Fredericktown, MO 63645.
Zippered plastic bags - Cut off the zipper part and recycle the rest.
Don't recycle these items. Reuse or trash.
Bottle caps - They can't be recycled because they are made from a different type of plastic that melts differently.
Padded envelopes with bubble wrap - not recyclable.
Plastic wrap - most places don't accept this because the cost of cleaning it is not worth it.
Take out containers - Chinese food containers are not accepted because they may have food contaminants. Plastic containers from the salad bar also cannot be recycled.
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About The Bargain Hunter
Daily News staff writer Julia Scott loves to find bargains on everything from groceries to Gucci. Her tips will help keep your hard earned cash where it belongs - in your pocket.
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Pizza boxes and other food smeared paper will recycle if you put them in your compost pile. Feed your garden!
You can get on the internet and give away or sell previously enjoyed sports gear here.
A couple of other wine cork recycling options:
www.recorkamerica.com
www.terracycle.com
www.Korks4kids.com
Happy Recycling
Roger