There are many different items that can be recycled.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, there are many reasons to recycle and reduce waste. Recycling can save energy, decrease emissions from greenhouse gases, conserve natural resources, prevent pollution and sustain the environment for the next several generations. Several different types of items can be recycled through curbside collection, drop-off centers, buy-back programs and deposit programs.
Steel
Steel cans and other steel products can be reused and made into new steel. Material recovery facilities sort steel into bales, before it is returned to steel companies and combined with other scrap to create new steel. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, most steel generated in the United States contains between 25 percent and 100 percent recycled content. Recycling steel is also more cost-effective than mining the ore needed to produce a completely new product.
Textiles
Textiles can be reused by others when clothing is donated to organizations. However, textiles can also be recycled. Both synthetic and organic textiles can be recycled at textile recovery facilities to create wiping or polishing cloths, paper or car insulation.
Paper and Paper Products
Paper and paper products can be recycled. Newspapers, magazines and other scrap papers can be reused by organizations or can be recycled and turned into new papers or printing surfaces.
Computers and Electronic Equipment
Computers and consumer electronic equipment contain many different types of materials, which can make them difficult to recycle. As a result, there are limited facilities for recycling these items. But materials recovered from recycled electronics can prove valuable; recycling facilities can reclaim gold from computer processors and cell phones. When possible, consumers are urged to reuse the items by donating them to organizations or people who can put them to use if local recycling facilities are not available.
Used Oil, Antifreeze and Tires
Items recovered from automobiles include used oil, antifreeze and tires. These items are most often recycled by businesses, although the Environmental Protection Agency encourages individual consumers to recycle these items when possible. Used oil can be refined and made into new motor oil; antifreeze can be reconditioned and turned into new antifreeze. Used tires can be used for many different purposes including fuel, synthetic mulches for landscaping and rubberized asphalt.
Plastics
There are many different types of plastics manufactured today. Examples include polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene. Recycled plastics are ground into flakes and turned into pellets before they are used to make other plastic products. Plastic manufacturers use a coding system developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry in order to identify different types of plastics. By identifying plastic types, consumers and businesses can determine which items are eligible for recycling in their areas.
Batteries
Used batteries can contain hazardous heavy metals including lead, mercury, nickel, and cadmium that can harm the environment when placed in landfills. These toxic substances can pollute nearby water supplies. Used batteries can include dry-cell batteries often used by consumers to power flashlights, toys and remote controls, or they can be automotive batteries used to power equipment and cars. Used batteries can be made into new batteries and plastic and metal components can be processed and reused by other industries.
Glass
Glass is a common recycled item that is used over and over again to make new containers. In fact, 90% of recycled glass is used in container manufacturing. Items such as jars, furniture and consumer electronics can be recycled for their glass content. Recycled crushed glass, also known as cullet, can be used to make tiles, counter tops and insulation as well.
Organic Materials
Organic materials including food waste such as coffee grounds, vegetable peels and fruit rinds can be recycled. Additionally, yard waste and wood waste can also be recycled to create recycled wood products and pressed boards or papers. Some organic materials such as food scraps and yard trimmings can be recycled by individual consumers to develop compost piles for gardening. Some used vegetable and animal oils are reprocessed to fuel engines and other equipment.
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