VERMONT RECYCLING

How do I get started?

5 Easy Steps to make recycling at home

work for you

5 STEPS TO MAKING RECYCLING WORK FOR YOU

Step 1 Make a Commitment

Step 2 Choose a disposal method

Step 3 Know what can be recycled

Step 4 Set up for recycling

Step 5 Establish a routine

STEP 1Make a Commitment

• Recycling is a choice….it is up to each individual to make that decision and then stick with a program that works best for them.

• Sticking with a program on a daily basis, soon becomes a habit and a habit quickly becomes a way of life.

• Understanding how your participation in recycling, no matter how much or how little you do has a big effect on our environment, our economy and our pocketbooks.

• Recognize how recycling: conserves resources, reduces size of landfills, saves energy, protects the environment, creates jobs, builds community and saves you money.

• Recycling can actually be easy to do and even fun, especially if you have kids. All it takes is a commitment and a little bit of effort, for you and your family to make a big difference in the future of our planet.

Research shows that making a commitment can have a positive impact on building motivation that leads to lasting changes in behavior. Commit yourself to making recycling a daily activity and to

consider recycling options before throwing items in the trash.

Commitment – Seeing things differently• Get everyone in the family on board. If you have children, talk to them about the

benefits of recycling. Get them involved any way you can: decorating containers, identifying recyclables, making a game of sorting items, involving them in programs at school. Often times children are better at recycling than the adults!

• Start seeing garbage itself as a resource. A lot of garbage that cannot be reused can be recycled or transformed into a brand new object. For example, melted glass becomes new glass containers, tiles, marbles, surfboards and more. Metal items can be transformed into a new car, cookware, more cans and bike parts. Plastic bottles can be turned into a myriad of things, including clothing such as outdoor coats and ski jackets. Used paper can be turned into new paper and cardboard. Find ways of reusing as many items as you can and donate items such as cans & bottles, ink cartridges, cell phones etc. to fundraising programs.

• Make money from garbage. Some of the items you recycle can bring you back money! Turning trash into cash is commonly associated with beverage containers but you can also get cash for metals, cell phones, ink cartridges, clothing and other items, depending on where you live and what laws regulate the return of such items. Check out Pinterest for recycling craft project ideas that can become a secondary source of income.

STEP 2Choose a Disposal Method

• Have your regular trash hauler pick up your recyclables. By law they cannot charge you extra for this service, however they may increase the rates they charge for removing your trash. Check with your hauler to see what they pick up, how often they pick it up and how it needs to be bundled.

• Hire someone to pick up your recyclable materials. While there are not many companies working in Vermont that only pick up recyclables, there may be some working in your area. You may also be able to pay a neighbor or friend to take your recyclables to the recycle center along with theirs, however, very few people will do this for free.

• Take your own items to your local recycle center. This is free to use, but requires you to sort your own items at the facility. Check with your local recycle center for hours of operation and identification of the items they take. Some recycle centers also accept trash disposal for a very reasonable per bag fee, which could also save you money.

There are a number of ways recyclable materials can be taken to recycling facilities. You must first decide what works best for you and fits into your household budget. These are the most common recycling methods used in Vermont.

STEP 3Know What Can Be Recycled

Knowing what you can recycle will help you set up an effective home recycling program for you and your family - after all, there’s no use separating specific items if there are no haulers or centers willing to take them! You can refer to the following website to see what each recycle

center in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District accepts. Visit:

The following slides identify the most universally accepted recyclable materials:

Glass•All colors of glass•Clear or frosted glass•Window glass•Ceramic ware•Pyrex•Mirrors

Labels are acceptable: but no caps, corks or covers

http://www.nekwmd.org/towns.html

Know What Can Be Recycled

CARDBORD AND BOXBOARD• Cardboard - flattened

• Boxboard- flattened• Cardboard egg cartons• Cardboard package dividers• Brown Paper Bags• Poster-board and craftboard

NOT ACCEPTED: •Waxed containers (milk, juice, etc.) •Cardboard soiled with food waste

PAPER OF ANY KIND •Newspaper•Magazines (and glossy inserts)•Junk mail•Regular mail•Colored and white paper•Catalogs•Books (Hard-covered may have to be sorted separately)•Wrapping paper ( non-metallic finish)•Mailing envelopes (metal tab removed)•Greeting cards and cardstock

Know What Can Be Recycled

TIN CANS: Magnets will stick to these• All types of cans are accepted (check with a magnet for acceptability)• Must be rinsed clean• Labels are acceptable• Flattening is not required

ALUMINUM : cans, foil & trays (magnets will not stick)

•All types are accepted (make sure to check with a magnet for acceptability) •Labels are ok•Flattening is not required•Aluminum foil (must be free of food debris)

Know What Can Be Recycled PLASTICS: #1(PET), #2(HDPE) & #4(LDPE)

(Most commonly accepted)Not all plastic are recyclable in all centers. Make sure you check with your local

recycling center to determine what is acceptable at your facility.Please check the numbers in the recycle triangle on the item for acceptability

• All plastic containers that have appropriate #1,2,4 stamp

• Automotive product containers are acceptable if drained of fluid

• Plastic “to-go” containers or “clamshells” ( if stamped) • Labels are ok• Crushing large containers is recommended• Containers should be rinsed clean

PLASTIC BAGS #2 or #4 only•Check bags for recycle labels

Know What Can Be RecycledELECTRONICS and BATTERIES:

Not all electronic items are recyclable in all centers. Make sure you check with your local recycling center to determine what is acceptable at your facility.

Check in you local area for ongoing fundraisers that collect cell phones, ink cartridges and electronic devices to raise money for their causes

• Stereos• Televisions• Clock Radios• VCR & Game Consoles ( NOT tapes or games)• Cordless Phones• Cable converter boxes• CD Players• DVD Players (NOT discs )

• Answering Machines• Fax Machines• Computers• Amplifiers• Scanners

• Alkaline Batteries• Rechargeable Batteries• Automotive Batteries• Cell Phones

Know What Can Be RecycledSPECIAL WASTE ITEMS

Not all items are recyclable in all centers. Make sure you check with your local recycling center to determine what is acceptable at your facility.

Items taken in many centers:

•Fluorescent bulbs•Aerosol cans•Hard Covered Books•Motor Oil•Oil Filters•Printer Cartridges•Propane Tanks•Fire Extinguishers

Items taken in some Centers:

•Scrap Metal •Tires (usually has a drop fee)•Garbage/Trash (new law requires fee for each bag)•Clothing and Textiles •Household Hazardous Waste is usually collected at special events around Vermont

Check in your local area for ongoing fundraisers that collect cell phones, ink cartridges and electronic devices as well as cans and

bottles to raise money for their causes.

Look for local clothing drops or donation points before placing clothing and shoes into Yellow Planet Aide Boxes which sends most of the items overseas.

STEP 4SET UP FOR RECYCLING

The most important part of home recycling is to develop a system that is simple and one that works for you…. then stick with it! Once you establish a system, recycling will become second nature to you…

something you and your family do naturally every day without thinking! Follow these helpful tips to help you set up a system that works for you.

A home recycling station is a sorting system for recyclables. When it's convenient we have little trouble putting recyclables in a designated container. By setting up your own recycling station, you will make it more convenient to recycle and increase your recycling frequency. It also allows for an organized system of sorting recycling as opposed to having piles of clutter around the house.

Once you know how you will recycle and what you will recycle, the next step is to set up an area for storing and sorting your recyclable items.

If your center is going to be in plain sight you may want to take some time to make it more aesthetically pleasing. Be creative about it. Use leftover paints and wallpaper or even old clothes to spice up your containers. Find ways to make your station blend into its surroundings. Have some fun with it! Be sure to place clear labels on the containers so there is no confusion about what goes where

Remember to keep your station simple, economical and easy to use!

SET UP FOR RECYCLING

• Kitchen: Which is likely where you’ll produce the most garbage from food prep - cans, cardboard, plastics, glass bottles, soda cans, etc. Here you’ll likely want an extra bin for organic waste.

• Home office: For collection of office paper, newspaper, and so on.• Bathrooms: For collecting containers from personal care products and paper waste.• Garage and Sheds: Where you’ll have old paints, vehicle fuels, cleaning products, and

yard waste. The garage or shed is also a good place for locating your recycling station, especially if you want it out of the way and out of sight.

Decide where to locate your recycling station and containers:  What’s more important to you - a home recycling system that’s easy to access or one that’s hidden away from view? How much space do you have available for recycling? The answer to these questions will help you determine the best location for your collection bins and a sorting area if you choose to use one.

Next, locate containers throughout your house to collect recyclable items. We recommend having several recycling boxes located where you produce the most waste. For instance, you may need a recycling container in each of these rooms:

SET UP FOR RECYCLING

Choose your recycling bins: •You can use any type of containers that are easily available such as cardboard boxes, laundry baskets, plastic bags, garbage pails, buckets or wooden boxes. Your choice of recycling bins is only limited by your creativity!

•There are also many models and types available for sale - some more stylish than others and some more functional, some are very economical and some can be much more expensive.

•Choose what works best for you in the space you have and works with your budget.

RECYCLING DOES NOT NEED TO BE AN EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION… SO KEEP IT SIMPLE & ECONOMICAL!

Bins, Containers, Boxes, Barrels, Buckets or Bags…..Which one is right for me? Once you have decided where to locate your recycle station and containers, you

need to decide what you want to use and how many you will need.

STEP 5ESTABLISH A ROUTINE

• Set up a recycling schedule to follow. Once you start using your recycling system, you will soon determine how often you need to go to the recycling center. It helps to post the schedule in your recycling station area to serve as a reminder.

• If you have a scheduled recycling pick-up from a hauler or neighbor, post a schedule of the days it is to be collected.

• Make recycling part of your daily routine so that you are more likely to stick with it!

• Inform everyone in your household of the recycling plan so that everyone can do their part. Do what you can, especially with children to increase participation and generate enthusiasm. Whenever you have guests over be sure to point out the station to them.

• Remind yourself that every day, you are participating in a world-wide effort to protect our natural resources, conserve energy and protect our environment.

Now that you have set up system for recycling, the only thing left to do is start using it! Establish a routine and make a conscientious

effort to think about what your are throwing in the trash….Before you toss it, ask yourself “Can this be recycled?”

BEYOND RECYCLING

Start by incorporating the other 2 R’s, Reduce and Reuse into your daily

routines. The more you can do to help our environment the better our world will

be for you, your family and future generations.

Now that you have started your new adventure into recycling, it will be easy for you to commit yourself to a lifestyle of helping to preserve our natural resources, protect our environment, conserve energy and hopefully save yourself some

money while doing it!

How can you help?

The following slides present easy tips on how you can participate.

REDUCE

• Buy only what you need. Buy durable products, and maintain and repair them to ensure longer product life. Borrow or rent items you don’t use often.

The best way to manage solid waste is to not produce it in the first place. Below are some easy tips to help you reduce the amount solid waste that is produced.

• Avoid excess packaging by choosing large containers instead of several small ones, buying concentrates, and buy food in bulk when it is available.

• By produce and other products that don’t come in a package. Or look for items that don’t use extra packaging For instance, buy produce in bulk form rather than those sold in excess packaging. Buy a hammer that is hung on a rack, rather than in a blister pack.

• When possible, purchase items made from recycled materials. Look for recycled labels and learn about products that are made from recycled materials.

• Shop by the numbers! Whenever possible buy only products packaged in recyclable containers. If your favorite product is not in a recyclable container, switch brands and be proactive by contacting the other company to change their packaging practices.

REUSEBefore you recycle or dispose of anything, consider whether it has life still left in it.

Reusing keeps new resources being used for a while longer, and old resources from entering the waste stream. Below are some ideas of how you can start reusing.

• Start composting food scraps instead of throwing them away. Either compost at home or take your food scraps to a local composting facility. This foods craps will be totally banned from the landfills in Vermont in 2020

• Donate unwanted items such as: appliances, tools, or clothes, bottles, cans, eyeglasses, cars, furniture, books etc. to Local churches, community centers, thrift stores, schools, and nonprofit organizations for their fundraising efforts.

• Have a yard sale or sell items on places like eBay or Craigslist. This helps you dispose of unwanted items while putting money in your pocket.

• Repurpose used items. A toothbrush works great for cleaning small items. Old towels, bedding and pillows can be used in animal shelters. Turn old silverware into a wind chime. Check out Pinterest and other internet sights for creative ideas on how to use recycled materials for a variety of projects. You are only limited by your creativity.

REDUCE – REUSE - RECYCLE

• http://www.earth911.com/

• http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/wastediv/solid/Act148.htm

• http://www.epa.gov/waste/index.htm

• http://www.nekwmd.org/

• http://www.onegreenplanet.org

• http://www.benefits-of-recycling.com/

• https://www.pinterest.com/

• http://twistedsifter.com/2012/06/creative-ways-to-repurpose-reuse-and-upcycle-old-things/

• https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=335#.VZm4NCjbKM8

“One individual cannot possibly make a difference, alone.  It is individual efforts, collectively, that makes a noticeable difference –

all the difference in the world!” -Dr. Jane Goodall

To learn more about how you can make a difference visit some of the following sites:

Remember the 3 R’s: Reduce – Reuse - Recycle