Need a guide to recycling? If you want to be a good recycler and nurturer of the environment, then here are some things that you should know. Keep it green y’all!
Guide to Recycling on Your Homestead
I always try to keep it green around our homestead. Not only do I make sure to upcycle, but we also recycle almost everything that we have. It may seem easy but there are still some things that you have to know to be a good recycler. So if you’d want to know how to sort them properly and what kind of material becomes what, then this infographic is a must read!
Thanks to Fix.com for this recycling guide!
Guide to Recycling On Your Homestead
The Paper Trail
What happens with your recycled paper?
Corrugated Cardboard
Packing boxes become shipping, cereal & shoe boxes
Mixed Paper
Junk mail, telephone books, cereal boxes, magazines, shredded paper become cereal boxes, toilet paper, new paper (secondary fiber), egg cartons.
Newspapers
Newspapers, flyers become newspapers, cereal boxes and toilet paper.
Paper
Letterhead, copier paper, envelopes become printing & writing paper, toilet paper
Sorting Plastics
Numbers are important to identifying the type of plastic and are usually within three arrows. These are only examples, readers should double-check their containers.
(1) PETE/PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
Pop and water bottles, peanut butter containers, salad dressing containers become polar fleece, tote bags, carpet, furniture
(2) HDPE/PE-HD (High-Density Polyethylene)
Milk jugs, shampoo bottles, yogurt tubs, motor oil containers, grocery bags become laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens and lumber.
(3) V/ PVC VINYL (Polyvinyl Chloride)
Detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging become flooring, decking, cables.
(4) LDPE/ PE-LD (Low-Density Polyethylene)
Squeezable bottles, shrink wrap, garment bags (dry-cleaning), shopping bags become trash cans, compost bins, paneling, lumber.
(5) PP (Polypropylene)
Yogurt containers, ketchup bottles, straws and medicine bottles become brooms, brushes, ice scrapers, battery and auto battery cables.
(6) PS (Polystyrene)
Disposable plates, cups & cutlery, take-out containers, aspirin bottles become light switch plates, egg cartons, foam packaging, take-out containers.
(7) O / Other (Other Resins, Layered, or Mixed Plastics)
3 & 5-gallon water bottles, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod & Computer cases become lumber, custom-made products.
Does recycling become a little easier for you? Let us know below in the comments!
Need more tips on recycling? Get more here:
How To Repurpose Materials Found Around The House
Jewel Welton says
March 1, 2016 at 8:28 AMGreat post! I’m recently trying to explain to my kids how important is reducing of the waste we are producing at home. They seem to be quite interested of this idea and also did some recycling projects at school too. The information you’ve shared is very helpful and gave me some great ideas. Thanks!