I Didn't Know That Was Recyclable! - Shower Poofs

Don't throw away your shower poof after you have finished using it.  Recycle it!  Shower poofs are made of #4 plastic.  This type of plastic can be recycled where ever plastic grocery bags are recycled.  All you have to do is cut off the rope/string before recycling it.

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Recycling Plastic Bags

Plastic bags are everywhere. Although often quoted as consuming oil resources, most plastic bags are actually made from natural gas. The bad news is most plastic bags are not recycled. Part of the reason is because many local recycling agencies do not accept plastic bags. They are lightweight, fly out of the backs of recycling trucks, and become litter. They also jam up the recycling machines and cause expensive repairs. The good news is that most plastic bags are recyclable. Stores such as Ukrops, Walmart, Food Lion, Kroger and Whole Foods all accept plastic bags for recycling. Although the United States Environmental Protection Agency stated in 2000 that only 1% of plastic bags were recycled, significant attention resulted in a 700% growth in the recycling industry as new capacity led to a 7% rate.

When most people think of plastic bags, the first thing they think of are plastic grocery bags. But did you know that many other types of plastic bags can be recycled along with your plastic grocery bags as well? All of the following can be recycled right along with your plastic grocery bags.

• newspaper bags
• dry cleaning bags
• bread bags
• produce bags
• toilet paper, napkin, and paper towel wraps
• furniture wrap
• electronic wrap
• plastic retail bags (hard plastic and string handles removed)
• grocery bag
• zip lock bags (remove hard components)
• plastic cereal box liners (if it tears like paper do not include)
• Tyvek(no glue, labels, other material)
• diaper wrap (packaging)
• plastic shipping envelopes (no bubble wrap/remove labels)
• case wrap (e.g., snacks, water bottles)
• All clean, dry bags labeled #2 or #4.

There are some types of plastic bags that should NOT be included. The following are considered contaminants and could jeopardize recycling programs:

• NO food or cling wrap
• NO prepackaged food bags including frozen food bags (e.g., prewashed salad bags)
• NO film that has been painted or has excessive glue
• NO other bags or films
• NO bio-based or compostable plastic bags

So when going to the grocery store, it's preferred that you use reusable grocery bags. But a certain amount of plastic is unavoidable. So let's make sure to recycle all we can.

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Common Recycling Mistakes

I have learned a lot about the do's and don'ts of recycling since becoming a WES Green Club volunteer. Here are some important things to remember when recycling at home, school, or work.

1. Check with your local recycler: Different recycling companies accept different materials for recycling. Just because something is "recyclable" doesn't mean that it can be put in the recycling bin. Including items not accepted by CVWMA creates additional work for the sorters and may lead to contamination of the materials they do recycle. Click HERE to see what CVWMA does and does not accept for recycling.


2. Don't put your recyclables in garbage bags or plastic bags: Sorting your recyclables and placing them into plastic bags is not necessary. The facility is equipped to do all the sorting. The plastic bags frequently jam up the machines at the recycling facility which are expensive to repair.


3. Don't put plastic grocery bags in your recycle bin: Plastic bags are recyclable but are not accepted by CVWMA. As previously mentioned, they jam up the machines at the recycling facility. The bags are also lightweight and can easily fly out of the recycling trucks and become litter. Save your plastic grocery bags and return them to stores like Ukrops and Walmart for recycling. Better yet, purchase some WES Green Club reusable grocery bags.


4. Not all #1 and #2 plastics are created equal: CVWMA accepts narrow-necked plastic bottles labeled with a number 1 or number 2 ONLY. This includes many soda and water bottles, milk and juice jugs, and household cleaner bottles. Plastics with other numbers or 1 and 2 plastics that are not bottles (like margarine tubs and other food containers) are not recyclable in this program. They are from the same family of plastics, but the two forms have been slightly modified to achieve different properties for strength, fluidity, crack resistance, etc. Even when the plastic number is the same, the manufacturing processes to create those qualities make the two containers incompatible. Including these incompatible materials in recycle bin contaminates the rest of the batch causing it to be disposed in the landfill.


5. Don't leave the tops on your bottles: Plastic bottles are typically made of #1 plastic and the tops are made from #5 plastic. Leaving the caps on the bottles contaminates the rest of the plastic. Too much contamination makes it impossible to sell the recycled plastic to bottle manufacturers. The recycling company has no choice but to throw the contaminated plastic into the landfill. If you want to recycle your #5 bottle tops, you can send them to your local Aveda salon for recycling.


6. Don't include juice or milk cartons: CVWMA use to accept these cartons for recycling. They no longer accept the cartons any more because there isn't a local market for recycled plastic coated paper. The WES Green Club participates in a carton recycling program with MilkMuny. Contact us at gogreenwoolridge@gmail.com if you're interested in participating.

UPDATE (12/17/09) - For the longest time, I have been including frozen food dinner boxes (like Lean Cuisine) in my recycling bin. I recently contacted CVWMA and they informed me that these bins should not be included in the recycling bin because they are waxed coated.

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Reusable Grocery Bag Tips

Thanks again to all of you who purchased a reusable grocery bag from the Woolridge Green Club. So far, we've sold over 100 bags! We still have some bags in stock, so please contact your teacher if you are interested in purchasing additional bags. The bags are $3.50 and the proceeds benefit the Woolridge Green Club.

A number of people have stated that they frequently forget to bring their reusable grocery bags into the store with them. Here are some tips to help you remember.

1. Keep your bags in your car. Don't store them in the trunk because you'll forget that they're there. Storing them in the back seat pocket is a better option because you'll be more likely to see them. Keeping a bag slid in between the passenger seat and the center console is another option.



2. Most of us write a list of what we need before going to the grocery store. Write "REMEMBER BAGS" at the top of your grocery list each week. Use a pad of paper like in the picture and write this down on every page so you won't forget.



3. Hang a bag on the door knob to your garage or someplace near by. It will serve as a constant visual reminder to bring your bags with you. If you don't want to hang a grocery bag, create a door tag (similar to a Do Not Disturb Tag) and hang that on the door knob.



4. Hang a bag in your pantry. Most people check out their pantry when writing up their grocery list.
   



5. Enlist your children's help in helping you remember to bring your bags.

Many local stores have programs to encourage you to use reusable grocery bags. Stores like Ukrops and Target offer a 5 cent credit for each reusable bag you use in the store.

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