Denver Recycling Tidbits Here's a few recycling tidbits and articles if you are wondering which types of plastics you can recycle, as well as how to watch what you buy to be more GREEN. Recycling Tidbits Submitted by Katy Saunders Thanks to our improved home recycling program and the hard push around earth day, many of us have either started recycling or have gotten more serious about it. The Denver recycling program has moved to an easier ‘single-stream’ recycling process. To us, that means it all goes in one bin (no bagging, please). But I’ve often found myself wondering about certain items, and depending on the day, I either recycle them or trash them. So I gave Tom Strickland, Program Administrator at Denver Recycles a call and he answered all my questions. Here are some of the things that you may not be aware of that can be recycled : - Small bits of paper, like receipts, business cards and shredded paper. - Anything less than the size of a business card should be bagged in a paper bag and stapled. This keeps it from flying away during pick-up, as well as from slipping through the sorting process. - Jar and bottle caps or lids. - Since these are metal, they are recyclable. As a size guideline, ½ dollar size or bigger. So those baby food and spaghetti jar lids, recycle them. But not beer bottle caps. - Boxes with shiny paper on the outside. - If it’s not wax coated, recycle it. Many boxes come like this, from Duraflame to diaper boxes. - Envelopes with the plastic windows. But please take out plastic credit cards and magnets from the inside. - Greasy pizza boxes. If it’s not falling apart from the grease, recycle it, but knock off the food bits. Items that they often get that have to be sorted out and cannot be recycled are: - Plastic bags of any sort. - ‘Clamshells’ Those plastic containers that strawberry’s and other produce come in. - Gift wrap. Wrapping paper is not of good enough quality to reuse. - Magnets in phone books. Phone books are great but the magnets cause problems, please take them off before recycling them. Some much stuff that you need 2 bins? Just call and request one! If you are regularly full, they’ll be happy to drop one off. Wondering about composting pick up? Boulder has just started this program and we may someday soon, as well. Denver Recycles is currently hoping for a grant from the state to start a pilot program that will include 3000 homes. If all goes well, we may get our own brown bins, too. There was a really interesting article on Slate.com about recycling plastics. I will try to post as a link here, but if it doesn't work just go to the slate site and look for the article in the Health and Science section. http://www.slate.com/id/2190734/ , lilaguide.com - Stores, Restaurants, Services, Products, Activities, Events

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Topic: Recycling Tidbits


Add as a friend Send message	coloradomom1	05/12/2008 at 9:15 PM
	Here's a few recycling tidbits and articles if you are wondering which types of plastics you can recycle, as well as how to watch what you buy to be more GREEN. Recycling Tidbits Submitted by Katy Saunders Thanks to our improved home recycling program and the hard push around earth day, many of us have either started recycling or have gotten more serious about it. The Denver recycling program has moved to an easier ‘single-stream’ recycling process. To us, that means it all goes in one bin (no bagging, please). But I’ve often found myself wondering about certain items, and depending on the day, I either recycle them or trash them. So I gave Tom Strickland, Program Administrator at Denver Recycles a call and he answered all my questions. Here are some of the things that you may not be aware of that *can* be recycled : - Small bits of paper, like receipts, business cards and shredded paper. - Anything less than the size of a business card should be bagged in a paper bag and stapled. This keeps it from flying away during pick-up, as well as from slipping through the sorting process. - Jar and bottle caps or lids. - Since these are metal, they are recyclable. As a size guideline, ½ dollar size or bigger. So those baby food and spaghetti jar lids, recycle them. But not beer bottle caps. - Boxes with shiny paper on the outside. - If it’s not wax coated, recycle it. Many boxes come like this, from Duraflame to diaper boxes. - Envelopes with the plastic windows. But please take out plastic credit cards and magnets from the inside. - Greasy pizza boxes. If it’s not falling apart from the grease, recycle it, but knock off the food bits. Items that they often get that have to be sorted out and *cannot* be recycled are: - Plastic bags of any sort. - ‘Clamshells’ Those plastic containers that strawberry’s and other produce come in. - Gift wrap. Wrapping paper is not of good enough quality to reuse. - Magnets in phone books. Phone books are great but the magnets cause problems, please take them off before recycling them. Some much stuff that you need 2 bins? Just call and request one! If you are regularly full, they’ll be happy to drop one off. Wondering about composting pick up? Boulder has just started this program and we may someday soon, as well. Denver Recycles is currently hoping for a grant from the state to start a pilot program that will include 3000 homes. If all goes well, we may get our own brown bins, too. There was a really interesting article on Slate.com about recycling plastics. I will try to post as a link here, but if it doesn't work just go to the slate site and look for the article in the Health and Science section. http://www.slate.com/id/2190734/ Flag

Add as a friend Send message	mema	05/29/2008 at 7:32 AM
	Are you familiar with www.freecycle.com ? They want to keep useful items out of the trash and help the environment as well. You join the group for free, the post any item you want to get rid of and someone emails back they want it. You arrange time and place for them to pick it up ( I put most items in plastic bags and place them on the front porch) they come get it and most time you don't have to spend time visiting or take precious time waiting on people. It works great for everything from old cell phones,to babyclothes. to computers and furniture. I've seen pets offered and taken, college books and exercise equipment, I've seen a request for a surfboard and large flat screen TV. (Bet he didn't get those) It's a great way to clean out the house and garage and its is local. Have fun. Mema Jax., FL Flag

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Here's a few recycling tidbits and articles if you are wondering which types of plastics you can recycle, as well as how to watch what you buy to be more GREEN. Recycling Tidbits Submitted by Katy Saunders Thanks to our improved home recycling program and the hard push around earth day, many of us have either started recycling or have gotten more serious about it. The Denver recycling program has moved to an easier ‘single-stream’ recycling process. To us, that means it all goes in one bin (no bagging, please). But I’ve often found myself wondering about certain items, and depending on the day, I either recycle them or trash them. So I gave Tom Strickland, Program Administrator at Denver Recycles a call and he answered all my questions. Here are some of the things that you may not be aware of that can be recycled : - Small bits of paper, like receipts, business cards and shredded paper. - Anything less than the size of a business card should be bagged in a paper bag and stapled. This keeps it from flying away during pick-up, as well as from slipping through the sorting process. - Jar and bottle caps or lids. - Since these are metal, they are recyclable. As a size guideline, ½ dollar size or bigger. So those baby food and spaghetti jar lids, recycle them. But not beer bottle caps. - Boxes with shiny paper on the outside. - If it’s not wax coated, recycle it. Many boxes come like this, from Duraflame to diaper boxes. - Envelopes with the plastic windows. But please take out plastic credit cards and magnets from the inside. - Greasy pizza boxes. If it’s not falling apart from the grease, recycle it, but knock off the food bits. Items that they often get that have to be sorted out and cannot be recycled are: - Plastic bags of any sort. - ‘Clamshells’ Those plastic containers that strawberry’s and other produce come in. - Gift wrap. Wrapping paper is not of good enough quality to reuse. - Magnets in phone books. Phone books are great but the magnets cause problems, please take them off before recycling them. Some much stuff that you need 2 bins? Just call and request one! If you are regularly full, they’ll be happy to drop one off. Wondering about composting pick up? Boulder has just started this program and we may someday soon, as well. Denver Recycles is currently hoping for a grant from the state to start a pilot program that will include 3000 homes. If all goes well, we may get our own brown bins, too. There was a really interesting article on Slate.com about recycling plastics. I will try to post as a link here, but if it doesn't work just go to the slate site and look for the article in the Health and Science section. http://www.slate.com/id/2190734/ Recycling Tidbits Denver- Stores, Restaurants, Services, Products, Activities, Events