5 Recycling Tips

A March 2000 study by the GrassRoots Recycling Network (GRRN) finds that while a record 28% of municipal waste was recycled in 1997, Americans were simultaneously wasting more -- landfilled and incinerated waste increased by 4.4 million tons. Here are some tips on how to help reduce this.

1. Drink Boxes: Only about 25% of U.S. households have curbside recycling for drink boxes. To find out if yours is included, contact the Aseptic Packaging Council at 800/277-8088, www.aseptic.org, or your local department of sanitation. If not, contact Tetra Pak, the manufacturer, for how to bring drink box recycling to your curb: 847/955-6000, www.tetrapak.com. Or choose to use washable drink containers instead.

2. Polystyrene: As part of a new "Foam from Home" program, you can bring Styrofoam trays, cups, and packaging to schools or businesses that have a Styro Solve system. This converts Styrofoam into a compact, recyclable gel. Learn more from International Foam Solutions, 800/856-3626, www.internationalfoamsolutions.com. You can also bring those irritating packaging peanuts to most Mail Boxes Etc. stores to be reused.

3. Computers: In 1998, some 20.6 million PCs were retired from use, but only an estimated 11% have been recycled. Donate your computer to charity: Share the Technology, www.sharetechnology.org; The National Cristina Foundation, www.cristina.org. Or send your old PCs to IBM for recycling ($30, including shipping), http://www.ibm.com/ibm/environment/products/ptb_us.shtml, 888/SHOP-IBM.

4. Batteries: Although rechargeable batteries do eventually quit, they are recyclable. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation will help you find recycling centers near you for nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd), nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH), lithium ion (Li-ion), and small sealed lead batteries (800/8-BATTERY, www.rbrc.org). (Call your local department of sanitation to learn how to dispose of regular alkaline batteries.)

5. Cardboard: In 1997, Americans threw away 10 million tons of corrugated boxes. If your town lacks curbside cardboard recycling, ask officials for it. In the meantime, you can often give unsoiled boxes to grocery stores or other businesses for recycling or reuse. For more recycling help, call 800/CLEANUP, or see www.earth911.org, which provides recycling locations by zip code.

Resource:

GrassRoots Recycling Network, 706/613-7121, www.grrn.org.