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Guide to Recycling On Your Homestead

Guide to Recycling On Your Homestead

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

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!

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Need more tips on recycling? Get more here:

How To Repurpose Materials Found Around The House

Repurposing Everyday Items

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