The current gas crunch and Mrs P's suggestion to recycle plastic containers got me thinking about recycling. I've always recycled since I learned about environmental concerns 15 years ago. I wondered if other DAGG members do also. If you want to start, here's some info:

www.earth911.org (lists locations in your area)

Recyclable materials

#1 plastic (PETE)
#2 plastic (HDPE)

#4 plastic (LDPE) mostly bags
#5 plastic (PP) - very limited facilities: re-use as storage?
#6 styrofoam (PS) PUBLIX. Kinkos for packing peanuts

#7 plastic (Other) - can't be recycled that I know of.
#3 plastic (Various) can't be recycled ??

Clean paper, magazines, boxes and heaven forbid COUPON INSERTS!

Aluminum cans & clean foil (including beer and friskies cans). If the can sticks to a magnet, it's probably steel, if not it's Al.

Steel (soup cans, tuna cans etc)

Glass (but NOT Pyrex)

Clothing and Rags can also be recycled

Nickel-Cadmium rechargeable batteries should not go in the trash. Many stores including Radio-Shack take these for recycling.

Ink cartridges can be exchanged for a free ream of paper at Office Max and Office Depot. Alternatively, you can pick up a pre-paid mailer (even at WM) and they recycle it.

It's always a good idea to rinse out your plastic jugs and steel cans (esp. milk jugs and tuna cans!). I always drain drink cans and wine bottles upsidedown in the sink to avoid the recycling can/bin stinking like a bar! If you have to transport your own recycling, clean containers are much better to handle. I always keep some old newspaper handy to put under the recycling bag in my car, to absorb any 'recycling juice' that escapes. Hand sanitizer is useful just in case. Actually, taking the recycling is a lot less gross than handling the trash - and when you recycle, you will have fewer trips to the dumpster or garbage!

Finally, you can consider composting your food scraps and making your own fertilizer - but maybe that's a bit far.

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