Recycling

Recycling 101

History of the Recycle Icon
The three familiar arrows that represent ‘recycle’ go back to the first Earth Day celebrated in April, 1970. At that time in America, environmental activism was just beginning to take hold.

Back then, The Container Corp. of America was looking to create a symbol to communicate to customers that its packaging products were produced using recycled content. The company held a design competition, which was won by a young graphic designer from the University of Southern California, Gary Anderson. His entry was based on the Mobius strip (made famous by artist M.C. Escher) and earned him a $2,500 scholarship. Anderson's winning entry is the symbol that is universally recognized today and is synonymous with recycling.

"Recycling a ton of 'waste' has twice the economic impact of burying it in the ground. In addition, recycling one additional ton of waste will pay $101 more in salaries and wages, produce $275 more in goods and services, and generate $135 more in sales than disposing of it in a landfill." - From Recycling: Good for the Economy, Good for the Environment.

The most important part of the recycling process is YOU!

As a consumer, you are responsible for how you manage your waste. Choosing to recycle most of your garbage, can significantly reduce our negative impact on the environment. To take it a step further, when you buy products made from recycled materials rather than using raw natural resources, you keep garbage out of the landfills and reduce the depletion of our natural resources.  Of course, recycling these products insures a healthier, more sustainable cycle.

Tips for Easy Recycling

Compost as much kitchen waste as possible. Even if you don’t have a garden to benefit from this nutrient rich soil fertilizer, there is probably a neighbor or community garden you can contribute easily to. Some towns even have compost pick up! This simple habit reduces garbage output significantly.

1) Flatten cardboard packaging - such as cereal and other food or household boxes and recycle with your junk mail.

2) Rinse glass and aluminum containers -  to avoid odors that may attract your pets and other pests.

3) Consider reusability before tossing it - There are many creative ways to use glass and plastic containers.

4) Share your magazines - Why not donate them to a hospital or doctor’s office for reading material, or even just giving them to a friend?

5) Used linens - Pet Shelters are always screaming for used towels, sheets and linens for the animals.

6) Disposal of household chemicals & paints – Your community will have instructions for proper disposal of these potentially dangerous household items, which shouldn’t go to the landfills.

7) What to recycle? Your municipality should have a helpful list posted on their website or newsletter. You can always call to find out. You can recycle a lot more than you think!