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Americans use more stuff than anyone on earth. Each of us throws hen you throw something away, it disappears from your home-but not from the earth. Most of it is trucked to landfills-and there it stays. The trash you threw away last year or 10 years ago is still there! And, we re running out of landfill sites. Some communities now spend a lot of tax dollars to truck their trash out of state. I 0 1992-All rights reserved. # 20006300.7/93 Edition Business & Legal Reports, Inc., Madison, CT 06443
c4h help Another problem is that some of our trash is hazardous. It can leak out of landfills-and into our drinking water. Still another problem: We re using up natural resources-just to make things we throw away. Fortunately, there is something each of us can do to help solve these problems: RECYCLE! Much of our trash can be recycled+nade into new products and used again. fl I n i l Making recycled products also: Costsless Uses less energy \ saves our natural resources Creates less air and water pollution I Recycling is something every one of us can do to make our resources and tax dollars go further-and make the earth a better place to live. But... Remember to follow your community s recycling rules to the letter. - Ir Mixing the wrong things into loads of recyclables can make the load worthless! 3
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glass bottles and jars every year. But you can recycle them instead. And recycling glass products: Uses 32% less energy Creates 20% less air pollution 1 - To recycle glass, just remove the caps and metal rings and rinse the containers. Your community may also ask you to sort glass by color. I If your state has deposit beverage bottles, just return those bottles to the store-and aet vour dedosit refunded, too. If those optrorrtp aren t mitable, look for nonprofit groups hdding bottle drives to raise money. Or tell your local govment: we want mcydingl If your community recycles glass, place yours at curbside or take it to the drop-off center. Don t include broken glass, plate glass, mirrors, light bulbs, plates, or crockery. I We wmt : recycting NOW! a I 5
Recycling aluminum and other metal food containers- cans, clean frozen food trays, and pie plates-lets manufacturers make new products with: 95% less raw material 90% less energy Rinse out metal containers for recycling. If your state has deposit beverage cans, return them to the store. You can also turn in aluminum in community recycling programs. Or you may live near a center that pays for aluminum by the pound. If your community doesn t have any of these programs, ask your elected officials to start one. Other Metals Even if your community doesn t recycle tin, steel and other metals, you c take yours to a scrap 6
We use about 32 billion pounds of plastic a year-and recycle only about 2% of it! But recycled plastic can be made into many new products from detergent containers to park benches. And since much plastic is made from petroleum, recycling saves money and conserves a valuable resource. To recycle plastic containers, rinse them out and remove and discard tops. Beverage bottles can be returned to stores in states with a deposit program. Some stores also accept plastic bags for recycling. Community recycling programs may only accept certain plastics. The most common: polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), used in soft drink bottles, and high density polyethylene (HDPE), used in milk and water jugs. Polyvinyl chloride (V) is used in meat wrap and cooking oil bottles.
The 35 million tons of leaves and grass we tt can be recycled right at home. It s easier tha
Most homes contain hazardous products, such as cleaning solutions, pesticides, paint thinner, paints, used motor oil, and used car batteries. Don t throw them away! And don t pour them out in the driveway or into a sewer. Just one quart of motor oil can pollute up to 150,000 gallons of drinking water! Save hazardous products until you can get rid of them safely. Better yet, only buy what you are going to use immediately. Many communities now sponsor special hazardous waste disposal days. Trained, equipped experts accept and sort home hazardous waste, then dispose of it properly. Some service stations will accept used motor oil and car batteries. If your community doesn t offer proper household hazardous waste disposal, call your state environmental protection department to find out where you can take your hazardous waste. 10
Businesses recycle, too. In some states, it s the law. PAUS, companies can often get paid for their recyclables-instead of paying to have them hauled away as trash. from computer printouts, letters, memos, and copies can all be recycled-and should be. The average office worker throws out 180 pounds of paper a year! Many businesses also recycle corrugated boxes and packaging. You can also cut waste at work (and save on the cost of supplies). Here are some tips. Make two-sided copies. Use the backs of old memos, envelopes, etc. as scrap paper. Reuse file folders and interoffice envelopes. Use a washable mug for coffee or tea instead of a Styrofoam or paper cup. If your company is not into recycling, see about setting up a recycling committee to get started. 11
Our garbage crisis is so big that recycling can t solve it all. We also have to reduce the amount of garbage we create. Try these easy steps-and think how much less trash we ll have if everyone does it! 1 Reduce Choose products with the least amount of packaging. Avoid juice boxes, plastic outer packs, individually wrapped cheese slices, etc.-anything you throw away before even using the product! Choose packaging that can be recycled in your community. 1 1 Select nonhazardous cleaning and household products. Clean ovens and toilets with baking soda. Use salt and boiling water or a plunger or snake for clogged drains. Clean windows with a vinegar and water solution. Buy canvas or string shopping bags you can use again and again. Say I don t need a bag for small [ purchases. Buy razors and other products with a long life instead of one-use 1. disposables. Store leftovers and pack sandwiches in reusable containers, not foil or plastic wrap. Use sponges and washable rags instead of paper towels. Use cloth instead of paper napkins. Use china or plastic dishes instead of paper plates.
Reuse Give your purchases another life. Buy a battery charger and recharge and reuse batteries. Bring paper and plastic shopping bags back to the store and use them again; some stores will even pay you for them. Use paper and plastic shopping bags, rather than purchased bags, to hold your trash. Pass on magazines and books to friends-r to hospitals, senior centers, and others who would enjoy them. Give old clothing, household goods, and furniture to charitable organizations. Or hold a garage sale. Other people will pay you for things you no longer want. Create a market for what you recyck by buying products made of recycled materials. Cl and other boxes that are gray inside are made of recycled materials. Wore and more products are labeled to identify recycled packaging.
I Many countries recycle much of their trash. Our grandparents did it. And we can do it, too. Recycling lets each of us make a difference. Think how much less trash there would be if everyone recycled. Involve your whole family in recycling. Children especially want to help save the earth. Urge your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to recycle. If your community doesn't have a recycling program, get together and ask your local officials to start one. Companies care what you think, so write manufacturers of products you like. Ask them to use recycled materials and recyclable packaging-if they're doing so, thank them! Encourage your company to buy recycled paper, cardboard and other products-and buy recycled products yourself.
the WORD... ) We can solve the garbage crisis if each of us: Reduces Reuses Recycles When you do your part, you: Reduce the need for landfill space Save tax dollars Saveenergy Reduce pollution Preserve our scarce resources Make the world a nicer place to live