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Recycling correctly is more than just tossing seemingly reusable packaging in the blue bin. There are actually quite a few guidelines to follow, depending on where you live, and ignoring them could mean your entire can of recycling goes into a landfill instead. The good news is, knowing how to recycle the right way just means learning the basic rules of recycling, like what recycling symbols mean, what can be recycled, how to clean and sort materials, and where to recycle. It's not as hard as it may seem. Here's your recycling 101 primer.
Common questions people ask about recycling are, "Why is recycling important?" "How does recycling work?" and "How does recycling save energy?" There's a lot to unpack when it comes to sustainability, sustainable living, and living green. When you recycle, you are reducing waste in landfills, preventing pollution, conserving natural resources, helping to combat climate change, and helping promote job opportunities in your community. If you're creative and have the right knowledge, you may be able to recycle anything. It's one of the simplest things you can do to combat climate anxiety, if you suffer from it.
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That elephant statue has a deep symbolic meaning. The post If You See an Elephant Statue at a Front Door, This Is What It Means appeared first on Reader's Digest.In many cultures, an elephant symbolizes good luck, power, wisdom, and fertility. And because feng shui is intentional about the placement of items in of the home, decorating goes beyond surface-level style.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recycling just one ton of office paper can save the energy equivalent of 322 gallons of gasoline. And recycling just 10 plastic bottles saves enough energy to power a laptop for more than 25 hours.
"Keeping items out of the landfill is one of the main benefits of recycling—especially if you live in a smaller city," says Dianna Robinson, materials management specialist in the recycle and waste division of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. "When landfills get bigger, they can have negative effects on people in those communities, like water and air pollution."
The future of recycling means learning from our current mistakes and following recycling lessons from other countries. You can even take a recycling quiz to find the best place to start. Regardless of how you learn the rules of recycling, know that you're working to reduce your carbon footprint, and your consumption in general. After all, when you recycle, you use less energy. Using less energy means fewer fossil fuels burned.
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The EPA defines recycling as "the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products." Composting is also a way of reducing the amount of trash that ends up in landfills. Composting is like recycling in a way—you keep your kitchen scraps in an aerated container and allow them to decompose, creating an organic additive for the soil in your garden. Good composting practices can help minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
How does recycling work?
When you recycle, you are part of a much larger picture. Officials at Recycling Connections explain the five key steps of curbside recycling:
You put recyclable materials, such as plastic, into your recycling bin.
A hauler collects the materials.
A recycling center sorts those materials.
The materials are processed at a facility.
The materials are sent to another manufacturer to melt, cut, or mold the materials and prepare them for the market.
Why should you recycle?
Even small habits like taking time to recycle packing material can have big impacts. Recycling is an eco-friendly practice that helps reduce pollutants going into our environment.
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"'Reuse, renew, recycle' benefits everyone by reducing the amount of materials going to the landfill. [It takes] less energy to recycle materials than to make the same items out of virgin materials, and recycling uses [fewer] natural resources to supply our needs," says Sam Lubbers, supervisor at Republic Services, a recycling center in Montana.
What goes into which bin?
Blue bin
This is your normal recycling curbside bin. You can put in things like:
Cardboard
Paper
Flyers
Plastic plates
Plastic cups
Plastic bottles
Glass bottles and jars with the lids on (in some cities)
Whether you should leave on plastic bottle caps depends on your county. Whether styrofoam is recyclable is also a question that depends on your area.
Green bin
The green bin is the organic waste and food bin. You can put in things like:
Cat litter
House plants (including the soil)
Coffee grounds
Tea bags
Diapers
Sanitary products
Soiled paper like ice cream containers
Black bin
This is your primary garbage bin, and it should contain waste that can't be taken to a recycling facility. Think of things like:
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Video: Program aims to help consumers recycle plastic film correctly (CBS News)
Baby wipes
Gum
Medical waste such as bandages
Drink pouches
Liquids
Robinson recommends that if you're learning how to recycle, the first step to take is to find out who is picking up your recycling and learn more about the rules of recycling in your local community. "Is it your city, your county, or a private company?" she says. "You'll want to be in good contact with them, because things change quite frequently. So start with whatever recycling company and learn what they accept in the bins in your area."
You can learn more about each bin on the GarbageDay website.
Recycling symbols
When it comes to recycling symbols, Lubbers says, "Understand that the symbols on plastics represent different physical and chemical properties, and that some centers require the plastics to be separated by the symbols/numbering."
If you look at the bottom of a plastic bottle, you'll see a symbol with a number. That number isn't random. It's there to help you ID what type of plastic resin was used to make the bottle. It's also there so you know what recycling bin to put your material in.
For example, the number one represents Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), typically found on items like water bottles and salad dressings. The number four represents Density Polyethylene (LDPE), often found on the bottom of things like ketchup bottles and toys. Learn more about all the recycling symbols and what they mean here.
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Typical Range: $2,800 to $7,000 National Average: $4,846Artificial grass is a growing trend among homeowners. The lure of artificial turf includes reduced water costs; better drainage; minimized maintenance; a stunning appearance in both sunny and shaded areas; and not exposing family and pets to pesticides, fertilizers, and chemicals. Today’s artificial grass looks more realistic than ever, but incorrect installation can make it look fake and unnatural. A professional artificial grass installer has the experience, skill, and specialized tools to make the fake grass look more realistic.
Reusing, upcycling, and downcycling
There are other ways you can reduce your waste in addition to recycling. Simply taking a reusable water bottle with you to the gym or when you're running errands, buying reusable straws or sustainable coffee mugs, using reusable grocery bags, and finding ways to upcycle your clothes can make a difference and help keep materials out of the landfill. You can also sell your old clothes and other belongings instead of throwing them away.
Upcycle That defines upcycling as, "The act of taking something no longer in use and giving it a second life and new function. In doing so, the finished product often becomes more practical, valuable, and beautiful than what it previously was."
For example, this student turns empty chip bags into sleeping bags for the homeless, and this organization transforms discarded flip-flops from the beaches of Kenya into large-scale sculptures.
Downcycling is the opposite of upcycling—often referred to as repurposing. Downcycling is essentially reusing material in a way that has lesser value than its original intention. For example, a large tractor tire could be repurposed as a watering trough for cattle.
What materials can you recycle?
Since recycling varies by location, knowing how to recycle correctly means getting in touch with your local recycling center. For example, Lubbers says, "Styrofoam, glass, plastic bags, books, and mixed (junk mail/colored) paper are items that they have a difficult time with in the Missoula, Montana area. However, the city of Superior, Montana can take glass, like glass bottles."
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The most commonly recycled items are:
Newspapers
Cardboard
Aluminum cans
Milk cartons
Paper
Plastic containers
Magazines
"Understand what your local recycling centers can accept," adds Lubbers. He stresses that recycled materials should be "empty, clean, and dry" and says to "keep materials separated."
What materials can't be recycled?
Again, you'll want to know what's recyclable in your area, but here is a list of items that typically can't be recycled or put into curbside recycling bins:
Light bulbs
Styrofoam
Anything smaller than a credit card
Certain plastics, such as bags, cutlery, straws, and clamshell food containers
Some cosmetic compacts
Used medical bandages
Any food containers that aren't clean and dry, such as greasy pizza boxes
Bubble wrap
Batteries
Food
Hazardous materials (motor oil, fuel, etc.)
Diapers
Electronics
Propane cylinders
Bulky plastic items like a laundry bin
Clothing
Hangers
Drinking glasses
How to recycle large items
When you're going beyond curbside recycling and looking to recycle large items like your car, old appliances, or a mattress, you'll need to find a specialized recycling center near you. And if it's scrap steel or copper, you may even get paid to take the item to the recycling center.
Recycling administrator Donna Cutler of Axeman Recycling in Montana says, "We take large items like cars, washers and dryers, refrigerators, and separated metals." They have the current price paid for each type of scrap on their website, which is typical for most metal recycling facilities.
For things like mattresses, you'll need to check with your local recycling drop-off center—oftentimes they charge a fee for accepting mattresses. If your mattress is still in good shape, you could consider donating it as an alternative to recycling.
Tips for recycling more efficiently
Experts at the nonprofit Earth Day give these tips for how to recycle more efficiently:
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Make sure your items are clean, empty, and dry—food containers should be free of grease and clean enough to use again.
Don't recycle anything smaller than a credit card—it's too small to process and could jam the machines.
Don't recycle combined materials—things like plastic-coated paper coffee cups and bubble wrap envelopes can't be separated.
Know your plastics—you can only recycle rigid plastics (which have recycling symbols one through seven, though one and two are safest).
Don't put items in your curbside bin if you're unsure of whether they can be recycled—this can cause your whole lot of recyclables to be contaminated and end up in a landfill.
When in doubt, ask your local recycling center.
Conclusion
Now that you know the basics, start recycling with confidence and help keep items out of landfills. Then, keep educating yourself about sustainability. Learn more about water conservation, sustainable food, and fast fashion. You could even start upcycling items at home.
And remember, when you recycle, you are part of the effort to conserve natural resources and combat climate change.
Sources:
United Stated Environmental Protection Agency: "Frequent Questions on Recycling"
Dianna Robinson, materials management specialist, Recycle and Waste, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
Sam Lubbers, supervisor, Republic Services Recycling Center
Donna Cutler, recycling administrator, Axeman Recycling
There are a ton of interesting facts about marine life out there, but you'll find some of the most fascinating tidbits in shark facts. Sharks, admittedly, have a tough rep. They're often the aquatic bad guys in TV and film (as anyone who's seen the classic movieJaws can attest), but they're really just misunderstood—and there's more to them than those sharp teeth. Read on to learn some eye-opening shark facts (just in time for Shark Week!).
During the mating process, male sharks bite into the female to assume the proper mating position. Male sharks also have sharp spurs on their genitalia to lock in place when mating. Due to this unpleasant experience, females have adapted by growing thicker skin for protection. Looking for some shark-themed humor? Check out these fin-tastic shark puns.
Talk about an interesting piece of animal trivia. After learning about the aggressive mating process, what female wouldn't want to do it herself? Well, a few known species of female sharks are able to. This is called asexual reproduction, or parthenogenesis. This ability to reproduce on their own may prove valuable in the face of a declining shark population.
There are more than 500 different species of sharks
Here's a fun animal fact: Among the more than 500 different species, there are sharks that can fit in your hand and sharks that reach up to 46 feet, according to the Smithsonian.
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Some sharks have the funniest names
The tasselled wobbegong: the name of an eccentric Ikea carpet or a shark? Well, it's a bit of both. This species is called the carpet shark because of it's fringed, coral-looking body. The names of other species will give you a kick too: goblin, megamouth, Brazilian guitarfish. These sharks and others fall on the list of the weirdest sharks in the world.
Like humans have black pupils, sharks too have a black spot on their eye, but their sense is much cooler. This organ allows sharks to sense electromagnetic fields and temperature shifts in the ocean. The upper snout of sharks is filled with a gel-like substance that's electrically charged and allows sharks to sense their prey's heartbeat.
Scientists are trying to discover what character trait allowed sharks to surpass the dinosaurs, but fossil evidence shows that sharks have been kickin' for a long time. About 450 million years, to be exact—the first fossil evidence dates back to the late Ordovician Period.
When flipped over, sharks go into a trance called tonic immobility. Researches use this tactic when studying sharks in order to get an up-close-and-personal look at them. "When the shark is gently turned on its back, it’s thought to disorientate them, causing them to enter the state," said the Shark Trust. "The shark’s muscles relax and their breathing becomes deep and rhythmic."
Heard the shark myth that sharks kill more humans than humans kill sharks? Well, that's simply not true. Sharks kill a handful of people per year across the globe, while humans kill between 75 and 100 million sharks. "The math on that is pretty simple," says Nick Whitney, PhD, senior scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium, who first got interested in sharks as a kid in Michigan because the movie version terrified him.
Now that he studies them for a living, he's no longer afraid to swim in the ocean. "I know what lies beneath now, and in some ways, that makes me much more comfortable," he says. "Then again, if I see a lot of bait fish close to shore and birds actively feeding on them, I know there are probably bigger fish nearby as well, and there are likely to be sharks too."
Only three shark species are responsible for most human bites and fatalities
Whitney says that of the hundreds of species of shark out there, bull sharks, tiger sharks and white sharks are the most dangerous, but even with those groups, most bites are inspired more by curiosity than animosity. "If any of these three species wanted to kill a human and eat them, it would be easy to do," he says. "The fact that the vast majority of those bitten even by these three species survive, that's a good sign it was an investigatory bite."
Whitney has been bitten twice, but says both times he totally deserved it. "Most of the injuries I've sustained during shark work have come from other humans or slip-and-fall accidents on the boat." In fact, these animals are deadlier than sharks.
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The U.S. sees more shark attacks than any other country, but very few fatalities
Most of the bites in the United States happen in Florida, but fatalities are rare. There was only one shark attack fatality in the United States in 2021. That same year in the U.S., sharks attacked 47 people without provocation.
Shark spotters make beaches safer for swimmers and sharks
Some places in Australia use overhead drones and helicopters to look for sharks near busy beaches, and in Cape Town, South Africa, human spotters put up flags on the beach and alert swimmers and surfers if a shark is spotted. "Shark Spotting has been a very successful program," says Alison Kock, a marine biologist with South African National Parks. "Not only does it reduce the chances of sharks biting people, but it also provides essential ocean safety information."
Some places use baited lines to catch sharks near popular beaches so they can be killed, though this culling hasn't proved to reduce the number of human fatalities. In other places, giant nets surround swimming and surfing areas, so sharks can't approach, but most animals caught in the nets die—including not only sharks but also dolphins and sea turtles, some of which are threatened or protected species.
Kock says humans pose a far greater risk to sharks than the other way around: "They are currently being killed faster than they can reproduce." Overfishing—particularly, the cruel practice of cutting off fins (for shark fin soup) and then releasing sharks back to the water to drown—is responsible for most of the losses, but sharks also get caught accidentally by longlines and nets meant for other fish, according to the World Wildlife Federation. Whale sharks, one of the least threatening species to humans (they eat plankton), were listed as an endangered species in 2016.
Whale sharks can grow as long as 40 feet and weigh more than 20 tons, which makes them about twice the size of most great white sharks. They do have teeth, but they don't use them for eating. Instead, they feed primarily on plankton and shrimp, like filter-feeding whales; they open up their five-foot-wide mouths as they swim along and filter out all the food as it passes through their bodies. They aren't aggressive toward humans, and many ecotourism operations promote SCUBA diving trips that allow people to swim with them.
Dwarf lantern sharks, which can fit in the palm of your hand, have been found in the Caribbean off the shore of Colombia and Venezuela, and are thought to live more than 900 feet below the surface, according to the Smithsonian Institution. They have photophores, organs that create light chemically, on their fins and bellies. The bioluminescence apparently helps camouflage them from predators looking up at them (making them blend in with the light from above the water) and attracts prey when they're down in darker water.
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Great white sharks are clever predators
"Sharks are smart," says Kock. She points out that great white sharks show up every year to feed on a group of young Cape fur seal pups at Seal Island, off the coast of South Africa near Cape Town. "Cape fur seals are really smart and agile, and catching an experienced adult is hard work and difficult. But white sharks avoid this by targeting the naive seals each year."
Sharks fill an important ecological niche as apex predators
Although we feel bad for the young seals, the role sharks play in picking off the weakest members of their prey group can be important. "Sharks play a key role in ocean ecosystems," says Whitney. "Removing them may cause a domino effect that can impact other species, even down to corals and algae." Without sharks thinning their ranks, large predatory fish can become more abundant; when they start eating more of the fish that typically graze on algae, then the algae might proliferate and out-compete the coral for sunlight.
Over the past couple of decades, researchers have been trying to figure out where white sharks go and why. Tagging programs have shown that West Coast sharks travel north and south between California and Mexico and spend several months out in the middle of the Pacific, about halfway to Hawaii. East Coast sharks range from Newfoundland to the Gulf of Mexico. In 2005, a great white named Nicole swam from Africa to Australia and back in nine months, for a total of more than 12,000 miles.
It's not true of all species, but great white, tiger and mako sharks all need to keep moving in order to breathe. Whitney has used tags with accelerometers—"the same technology found in your Fitbit or iPhone"—to track the way sharks move underwater, and he's found that great whites do something he hadn't expected: They repeatedly swim from the surface down to the sea floor and then back up. "We can tell from the tags that when they're going down, they just glide, and then when they're going up they have to beat their tails pretty strongly to get to the surface," he says.
It might be a way of conserving energy, like when birds glide, and they might even be sleeping on the way down. "They have to swim constantly from the moment they're born until they die, so this might be a way to take a break once in a while."
Sources:
World Wildlife Fund Canada: "7 Fascinating Facts About Sharks"
The Smithsonian Institution: "Sharks"
Oceana: "Tasselled Wobbegong"
Scientific American: "The Shark's Electric Sense"
Natural History Museum: "Shark evolution: a 450 million year timeline"
Shark Trust: "Tonic Immobility"
Florida Museum: "The ISAF 2021 shark attack report"
Nick Whitney, PhD, senior scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium
The New York Times: "A Surfer Is Killed, and Australia Asks: Do More Sharks Need to Die?"
The Conversation: "How shark spotting can help reduce attacks. A Cape Town case study"
The Conversation: "Has Queensland really saved lives by killing thousands of sharks?"
The Sydney Morning Herald: "'Senseless': Nets catch 480 animals including many protected species"
Live Science: "Facts About Whale Sharks"
Save Our Seas Foundation: "Features of the great white shark population of Seal Island, False Bay"
ResearchGate: "The Ecological Role of Sharks on Coral Reefs"
Slate: "New Camera Tag to Help Solve Great White Mystery"
Phys Org: "Study: Great white sharks are swimming farther and deeper"
Live Science: "Must Sharks Keep Swimming to Stay Alive?"
The post Recycling 101: Learn How to Recycle (the Right Way) appeared first on Reader's Digest.
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Say hello to your new favorite Amazon cleaning gadget. She's cute, functional and most important of all, keeps food fresher for longer. The post Meet Chilly Mama, the Cutest Fridge Odor Absorber You Can Buy appeared first on Taste of Home. 
That elephant statue has a deep symbolic meaning. The post If You See an Elephant Statue at a Front Door, This Is What It Means appeared first on Reader's Digest.In many cultures, an elephant symbolizes good luck, power, wisdom, and fertility. And because feng shui is intentional about the placement of items in of the home, decorating goes beyond surface-level style. 
Many people think that eating cholesterol-heavy foods is the number one factor in your cholesterol levels. This isn't necessarily true.For example, diets heavier in added sugar may impact your cholesterol levels in ways you may not realize. 
From washing raw chicken to throwing out bread that's stale, there's a lot of terrible cooking advice out there. Spanning the downright dangerous to the simply unhelpful, these are the cooking tips you should always ignore. 
Maybe you think a beer before driving is no big deal? Watch out for such alcohol myths, as some could lead to a DUI or consequences such as liver failure. 
Typical Range: $2,800 to $7,000 National Average: $4,846Artificial grass is a growing trend among homeowners. The lure of artificial turf includes reduced water costs; better drainage; minimized maintenance; a stunning appearance in both sunny and shaded areas; and not exposing family and pets to pesticides, fertilizers, and chemicals. Today’s artificial grass looks more realistic than ever, but incorrect installation can make it look fake and unnatural. A professional artificial grass installer has the experience, skill, and specialized tools to make the fake grass look more realistic. 
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From the Byers' family home of Stranger Things fame, to the spectacular Chicago mansion of Home Alone, these famous movie and TV houses are sure to fill you with nostalgia! 
