Recycle Me Not?

Tricky Things to Recycle – (Article to Expand)

Few ideas and resources on recycling some of the more tricky items in your waste bin! Some cities are better prepared with their waste management infrastructure to handle a variety of recyclable goods; others aren’t. Be sure to research what can go in your bins!

Photographs – Time before digital

Ideas

Repurposing these items via a school is probably a great resource. If that’s not an option and you are not a photographer, there are companies who will extract the silver from photographic paper in large quantities, then more than likely your photos will go to the dump.

Certain Types of Shoes – Run down, beat up and dead (not workout shoes)

Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose your old shoes (if still in decent condition) via donations (Goodwill, Freecycle (Click Me), or sell!). I have found recycling pretty beat up (non-Athletic shoes: Nike - Click Here takes these back!) are pretty hard! Like my fashion boots – Where do these go?

Squeezable Bottles/Snack Bags/K Cups– To the last drop

TerraCycle Programs Link Here – Free program in which you can send them a variety of different plastics/etc. (Free shipping labels). (ie Toothbrushing products, K cups, Solo cups, Energy bar wrappers, Detergent containers, Baby food items, etc). Perhaps establish a recycling point at your work and help others recycle hard items!

There is good and bad discussions on Terracycle as the energy used to recycle/repurpose can outweigh the benefits; also there is issue on the profits in teaming with companies who manufacturer their products using plastic and then repurposing that plastic to sell again. Should green/sustainability be generating more plastic in order to generate more profit from the repurpose of goods?

Recycling, in some ways, has become a business itself in which is more profit oriented that integrated management of production/waste? Thoughts?

Other Items to Consider:

Electronics: Look to your local University to see if they have an electronic waste recycling program and/or a local city recycling day. Many items are considered “classics” and wouldn’t it be great if you old your CD or tape deck played music again?

Razors: No Dice. Switch to electric or go old school with steel blades!

Women’s products: If you can’t go reusable, consider purchasing items that are chemical free or more natural.

Plastic Straws: Again, no dice. Go bamboo or metal.

Refuse to take! Beauty Products - Check your local Sephora for a beauty product recycling program.

What have you found to be difficult to recycle, repurpose, reuse and REFUSE?

Additional Resources:

Buy Nothing - Facebook groups organized by city/town. Trade, Give Away and Ask!

Local Charities

Journey to Zero Waste Groups - Facebook

Non-Consumer Advocate Groups - Facebook