Recycling Tips For Tricky Items (PHOTOS)

From Terri Bennett, Founder of DoYourPart.com:

Stumped on what to do with stuff you don't think you can put in the recycling bin?

Don't trash it before finding out how to Do Your Part with all that stuff. Here are Terri Bennett's 'Top 5 Solutions to Recycling Problems.'

Also, be sure to check out these tips on how to waste less food.

All photos and captions courtesy of DoYourPart.

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Comments

[doctorcastille]

08:09 AM on 10/26/2011

CFLs seem to last a long time if left on 24/7. Otherwise it's my experience that they burn out about as fast as any other light bulb.

[JScott]

12:01 PM on 10/25/2011

If you are buying just a few items decline the bag and otherwise bring a bag (cloth or paper or plastic)
with you go to the store, they sometimes will credit you on your bill, and some localities are banning plastic shopping bags (LA County unincorporated areas). And check with your locality some have electronic recycling programs where you can recycle some of this stuff in addition to old electronics and such.

[Harvey Lacey]

10:16 PM on 10/25/2011

Banning the plastic shopping bag is feel good b.s.. Here's why. Everything you buy in that store is probably packaged in film plastic already. Unless it's canned then chances are it is in a film plastic container.

So chances are most likely your not using the single use plastic bag means you're cut back your consumption of single use plastic bags by ten percent or less.

But you feel good about it. Right?

[Harvey Lacey]

10:41 PM on 10/24/2011

Oh the beauty of Ubuntu-blox. That is a building system that uses foam and film plastics to make building blocks for making good houses. It's an open source free to the world method that not only makes great houses but removes that nasty stuff styrofoam and film plastics from the landfill and landscape.

Ubuntu-blox project on facebook or Google recycled plastic block houses.

We are going to Haiti next month to build our first model home. It will be 240 sf and consume half of a forty foot shipping container's worth of foam and film plastic. This house will be built by women because the manual machine and method of constructing the house was designed for the way women work instead of the way men do.

[linja]

10:07 PM on 10/24/2011

Thanks for mentioning that these contain mercury. They are hazardous if broken. See the EPA website for what you should do if this happens. I wouldn't use them where children could break them. Mercury poisoning is serious.
Some brands of CFLs are safer than others. The ewg.org website publishes a list, or you may see mention on the label.

[MrStat1]

06:18 PM on 10/24/2011

I'll just toss it in the trashcan like everything else.

[Genders]

02:21 AM on 10/26/2011

Proud of that? ya read you trash contract? you might be breaking the law.

[Dana1982]

03:00 PM on 10/24/2011

I love taking these bulbs down to the riverbanks here in California and breaking them against the rocks. They make a cool poping sound and give off a white puff of dust that gently settles on the river.

[El Justiciero]

07:07 PM on 10/24/2011

That " white dust" you're so casually allowing to settle on the river can also be snorted or sprinkled on cookies. It's get ya totally WASTE-O.

[Dana1982]

08:42 PM on 10/24/2011

I don't do drugs, so I'll just have to take your word on that one.

[imusintheevening]

01:07 PM on 10/24/2011

Responsible waste stream management would insist that any retailer accept the product they sold for recycling, no exceptions.

[MrStat1]

06:18 PM on 10/24/2011

That would require an act of a legislature.

[Genders]

02:21 AM on 10/26/2011

They have that law in Europe.

[imusintheevening]

06:16 AM on 10/26/2011

Oh, those socialists! ;-))

[Beautiful World]

12:45 PM on 10/24/2011

CFL , compact fluorescent light bulbs are not green. If you break one of those it is far from environmentally friendly. They do not last longer (especially in track lighting). The World Health Organization does not endorse. And, they are not made in North America.

[imusintheevening]

01:15 PM on 10/24/2011

A. They contain far less mercury than released by a coal plant to produce the same light with an incandescent bulb.

B. They are also made in the US:

http://www.neptunlight.com/

http://www.wayfair.com/Sea-Gull-Lighting-13W-Twin-Tube-Compact-Fluorescent-Light-Bulb-9747-GX8874.html?refid=FR49-GX8874

[Beautiful World]

01:45 PM on 10/24/2011

Ok maybe the stores near you carry the bulbs made in North America, but when I bought some years ago , I couldn't find any. Also I have incandescent bulbs that have lasted 6 years so far. The three CFLs lasted one year. When I went to recycle them at a hardware store. I was told , "oh we just smash them in the back"( as I look over and see the teenagers stocking the shelves, wondering who will be asked to do this). I know the mercury is small but not worth the risk when one breaks in a child's room. Also if all bulbs become CFL , that is just compounding the mercury problem. In my opinion.

I am the first one to encourage green products,green energy ,and recycling. I just don't believe this product in particular is the best solution.

[linja]

10:11 PM on 10/24/2011

The mercury released by a coal plant is bad, but if you break a CFL in your home you risk poisoning everyone in it! EPA recommends throwing out your carpet if the CFL breaks shatters on it. Also, most CFL's are made in China and reports say that protection for the workers is lax; some are getting harmed by the mercury.

[El Justiciero]

07:10 PM on 10/24/2011

Don't break them.
They're less polluting when you consider the greater energy needed to light a standard bulb (typically coming from coal or petroleum.)
They DO last longer when used as recommended.
They can save you a lot of money. They save me $45 on my electric bills.

[El Justiciero]

12:39 PM on 10/24/2011

Re-use was the norm for generations before we had trash pickup. Collecting old clothing and rags from homes was a vital part of the paper making industry. People were especially aware of the recycling & reusing of materials during WW2 but today we can't be bothered. Nobody thinks it's their responsibility to have a concern for the future or make any effort to conserve energy & resources for the good of us all.