Curbside recycling makes it much easier to recycle all of your paper, plastic, glass, and metal waste because you don't have to haul it to a recycling center. If you have curbside recycling available where you live, then you should take advantage of its convenience. The recycling company will provide you with information on how to prepare your waste for pickup, but here are some general guidelines to keep in mind.

Rinse Off Food

Rinse cans and bottles before placing them in the recycling container. Your waste should be free from food if possible, although it usually isn't necessary to wash the cans. Rinsing might be optional with your local recycling company, so be sure to check. If you don't have to clean cans and jars first, recycling is that much easier. Rules may apply to paper and cardboard waste too. You won't be able to rinse cardboard, so if it has food stains, then you might have to throw it in the regular trash. For instance, pizza boxes with grease stains might not be acceptable by your local company for recycling.

Recycle Plastic Bags Separately

Your recycling company may not want thin plastic wraps or plastic grocery bags. If they won't accept plastic bags, you can save them separately and take them to a drop-off location. Your grocery store may have a bin for used plastic shopping bags, so they can be recycled easily without making a special trip.

Know Rules About Lids On Bottles

Recycling companies have different rules when it comes to leaving lids on plastic bottles. Some don't want the lids left on bottles because the lid and bottle are made of two different kinds of plastic. Leaving the lids on can also pose a danger when the bottles are crushed and the lids fly off. However, loose lids are known to cause problems to the machinery due to their small size. You may be asked to keep the lids on the bottles, but it's a good idea to crush the water or soda bottles first and then put the lids back on. If you aren't allowed to include water bottle lids in your recycling bin, you can take them to a drop-off center in the same way you do plastic grocery bags.

Throw Out Shredded Paper

If you use a shredder at home to protect your identity, you probably have a pile of shredded paper to get rid of every week. However, shredded paper might not be allowed in the recycling bin. If not, you'll have to throw it in the regular trash. You may or may not need to sort your waste when you have curbside recycling. If everything is thrown into a big recycling bin together, shredded paper is too difficult to separate, so your recycling company may prohibit it.

Whether you throw all your recyclable waste into a single container or separate it by plastic, glass, and paper, the waste should be loose. Don't place it in trash bags like you do regular waste. The recycling center has to sort the waste as it moves along the system and that can't be done if the waste is inside a garbage bag. Contact a company, like Industrial Services Inc, for more help.

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