Recycling for the Bachelor

One of the major disagreements you and your roommates are bound to get into is the recycling issues. The problem is that not everyone has the same idea as to what it means to recycle; some people think that everything can be recycled. As this is not true, it may help to look through what can and cannot be recycled:

Aluminum: Okay, so pretty much anything made of metal can be recycled. Just make sure that you separate aluminum before you head to the recyclers; steel and other metals may be accepted, but they have their own reward, and it’s usually better than for aluminum. This is why you hear so much about air conditioner units being stolen and stripped; the metals that make them up are worth more than the unit.

Paper: Almost any paper products can be recycled. However, there is a catch; anything that has been in contact with food, especially grease, cannot be recycled; this applies to cardboard as well. In 2009, recyclers spent $700,000,000 repairing their shredders because of grease in cardboard boxes killed the machines. Throw pizza boxes and fast food wrappers in the garbage where they belong rather than in the recycling bin where they will cause damage.

Glass: Although without labels is best, glass is probably the easiest thing to put in the bin. There is usually no problem, but keep in mind that there is another kind of recycling: craft brewing. You can buy bottles for brewing beer and then recycle them yourself by washing them at home. Just don’t let anyone take your bottles out of your premises or you will need to buy more bottles, and you will need to watch out for bottle poachers.

Plastic: If you think that getting your roommates to put pizza boxes in the garbage was a problem, this is even worse. The problem is that there are several types of plastic, and only one is usually accepted. The real issue is that each type of plastic is made differently, with different chemicals. The softer plastics are usually made with a plastic-softeners, and this gives them a limited lifespan while making them great for the food they store. The key is to look for the small triangle with a number in it; you want a “3”, the same plastic as most two-liter plastic bottles. Keep your plastics to #3 plastics and you should be fine.

Keep those notes in mind, and you should get the most bang for your buck. Parties can thus make some of the cost back if you just remember to not let people take your recyclables home. Do what you can for the environment, and start at home.