The 18-gallon recycling bins are a box shaped recycling bin, which is good for any type of material you want to recycle. You can get them with and without lids, which make them a stackable type of container.

When you are recycling paper, you want a different container for each type of paper. The magazines, glossy printed flyers, newspaper inserts, phone books, envelopes, computer paper, old letters and paper packaging can all go into the same recycling bin. Newspapers however require their own bin just as corrugated cardboard and plastic lined drink boxes both requires separate containers.

Plastic will not decompose in a landfill. Some plastic containers can be recycled into other products. Unlike aluminum cans, which can be recycled into another aluminum can. Recycled drink bottles will not come back as another drink bottle. It may come back as a shower stall, plastic bags, plastic toys, motor oil bottles and the list goes on. There are several different types of plastic, so you will have to check with your recycle center to see what types of plastic they are equipped to take. There are some recycle centers, which are known as “All Plastic Recycling Centers”, which means they will take any type of plastic. Just to give you an idea, plastic goods are assigned a number to grade them for recycling. #1 and #2 are for containers, #4 is for bags, and #7 is for mixed plastics and is not recyclable.

Plastic bottles are a valuable recyclable material. Tops of the bottles should be removed and placed in with the other regular plastic items. Plastic grocery bags can be recycled. Many grocery stores will have a container at the front of the store for customers to place their used grocery store bags into. Polystyrene cups, food trays and egg cartons will not biodegrade. Some plastic recycling centers will not accept the polystyrene items, but some due. Try to reduce your use of this material. Read the rest of this entry »