10 Everyday Items You Can Recycle
Posted by Chad Norman January 31st, 2008 .Like most areas in the country, our local recyclers only accept plastics #1 and #2. My family collects a lot of these plastics as bottles, milk jugs, Starbucks cups, and so on. But what about all those other plastic items in our lives?
If something is labeled as a plastic #1 or #2, it can be recycled virtually eveywhere. This is great news if you’re trying to reduce your impact and waste. We can all help close the loop by buying and recycling products made from these materials - every little bit helps.
Here are 10 everyday plastic items that are recyclable.
Little Tikes Wagon
This common kids wagon is mostly made from high density polyethylene, which means you can roll it right down to your local recycling center. Cheers to Little Tikes for making products that stay out of the landfill.
Wet Floor Sign
These ubiquitous yellow signs are designed to catch our eye, but I bet every now and again they catch the wrong side of a forklift. In those cases, you can recycle the high density polyethylene remains.
Watering Can
I’m really not surprised this cheap watering can is made from recyclable high density polyethylene, but knowing it doesn’t have to end up in the landfill once I run over it with my car is comforting.
Target Cart
I had just started writing my Surprising Recyclables series when I noticed that the bright orange carts at Target were plastic #2, or high density polyethylene. I wonder if even one has been recycled…
Milk Crate
I’ve used standard milk crates for years to carry albums, store paint, make shelves, and collect trash. And they can be recycled because they’re plastic #2, and totally not stolen…I swear.
Recycling Bin
In corporate america, this is called eating your own dog food. I’ve checked a few different blue bins around my hood, and they all seem to be made from high density polyethylene. Woof!
Paint Bucket
These commercial white paint buckets are everywhere, and actually quite handy around the house and yard. If you can’t reuse them, keep them out of the landfill by recycling - they’re high density polyethylene.
Basketball Hoop
These Little Tikes basketball hoops are everywhere - typically in ratty to semi-nasty condition. Look closely, you’ll see the plastic #2 symbols. That means it’s made from high density polyethylene, and totally recyclable.
Cable Bag
Finally, some polyethylene terephthalate - a.k.a. plastic #1. My DVD player’s cables came in bags made from PET. Why aren’t all bags made from PET? I was able to toss this into my recycle bin instead of the trash.
Detergent Scoop
I noticed our scoop was polyethylene terephthalate, and wondered how many millions are thrown away each year - the drama. Plastic #1 is recyclable nearly everywhere, so tell a friend and help stop this soap opera…
See, you might have recyclable items lurking everywhere. Be on the look out for more, and let us know what you find in the comments section. Happy recycling!
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I found your blog on the Lowcountry blog list and I’ve been reading anonymously for a few months. Thanks for posting all the recycling information. I’ve become more aware of what I can recycle, and I’ve started recycling paperboard because of the information on how to do it here.
Those paint buckets will likely have dry paint in them. This makes them taboo.
Who are we kidding? All of those products get thrown away and end up in a landfill where they are as toxic as the next hunk of plastic.
Having helped load hundreds and hundreds of old carts to fill two semis during our stores remodel. I’m hoping that those carts went to a recycling plant. With as much other stuff that went into dumpsters, hopefully at least the carts went to a better place.
@Umm - The whole point here it to bring awareness to the fact that these items ARE recyclable. I agree - I bet most of these products do get thrown in the trash today, but we can change that.
Hey John, that’s good news about the carts. With a effort separating metal from plastic, you could get a lot of HDPE out of them.
Absolutely wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing this information.
I just wanted to thank everyone here for being environmentally responsible. I invite you join our Green Globe Group at http://1usyoga.com/greenglobegroup.html
Namaste,
Lynn
I’m trying to find out what to do with wire coat hangers from dry cleaners. They’ll take them back, but only to throw them out for you. (Great.) And Goodwill only uses plastic hangers. Does anyone know if they can be recycled?
Wire hangers can be recycled as scrap metal, but they would have to be taken to a local buyer that collects scrap metal or to the Bee’s Ferry convenience center. If i remember correctly, the Bee’s Ferry convenience center collects scrap metal.