Doing a bit of research before you sort your trash can make all the difference. Recycling rules differ from one city to another. Here are a few ways to help you do it better.
■Don't put your recyclables in a plastic bag.
It's not that we don't have the technology to recycle plastic bags, but it is risky to recycle them because the bags are so lightweight and flexible that they end up getting caught in the recycling equipment!
Your best option is to bring your plastic bags to a drop-off recycling center where it has the right equipment to recycle them.
■You can recycle plastic caps together with bottles.
In the past, we were told to separate the cap from the bottle when recycling. Bottles are made from #1 plastic while their caps #5 plastic. They are at different melting temperatures and need to be processed separately. But now, advanced machines have made it easier to separate bottles and caps.
At present, what you need to do is leave the plastic bottle cap on the bottle and ensure the bottle is free of all liquids before throwing it into the bin.
■You can't recycle a pizza box.
Although cardboard itself is recyclable, pizza boxes are not. Why? It all comes down to the oil. When you place oily cardboard into a recycling bin, you run the risk of polluting clean, recyclable things. And an entire pack of polluted recyclables can cost more.
But if only a small part of your box is oily, pull that piece off the box and throw just that piece away while the rest of the box can then be recycled.
