During the wintertime, it can be easy to get off track with eco-friendly habits, especially when presented with a variety of goods that you’re unsure about in terms of their recyclability. So if you are looking for ways to recycle plastic and many other materials this winter, keep on reading!
Tips on How to Recycle Plastics This Winter
1. Plastic Cartons
From baking up goodies for holiday parties to making unique creations using leftovers, there are plenty of holiday foods you’ll come across that have plastic packaging that can be recycled! Some of these include eggnog, milk, and heavy cream.
So if you are cooking up a storm this winter, be sure to properly dispose of any plastic packaging into your recycling bin, as it’s one of the easiest ways to recycle plastic!
2. Plastic Cups
During various holiday parties, you and your friends are bound to pile up a large sum or plastic cups. While they are convenient to use at the time, they are also notorious for not being recycled.
All you need to do is wash the cups out after use, put them all into a bag, and throw them into your recycling bin for pickup, or drop them off at your local recycling center.
3. Plastic Bags and Packaging
Everyone knows that the holiday season brings with it plenty of shopping and gifts. And many families do not take the time to separate their boxes, wrapping paper, and packaging when unwrapping presents.
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- According to Ban the Bag, more than 90% of the population in the United States has access to plastic bag recycling. So while you’re out this winter, try and remember to bring your own reusable shopping bags to the stores with you.
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- Also, many plastic containers have their corresponding recycling number somewhere on the package to let you know if you can toss the container in your recycling bin, or if you should take it a center that can process it properly.
4. Plastic Holiday Décor
At some point in time, you were likely to either own or come across those large, bulky plastic Christmas decorations for your lawn. Snowmen, candles, nativity scenes, reindeer – the list goes on and on.
Well, if you happen to own one of these, and think the item has run its course through the ages, be sure to dispose of it properly. As a large plastic item, unless recycled, it will likely just end up in a landfill until the end of time!
5. Plastic Sleds
Following years of harsh winter weather, plastic sleds often become unusable. And much like plastic holiday décor, they are often forgotten about. Recycle Nation suggests scrapping down the material to the best of your ability, and bringing it into your local recycling center for them to handle.
Other Materials You Can Recycle This Winter
Along with all of the various plastic items you can recycle in the upcoming months, there are a variety of other things that you may not have even known were recyclable! With a little assistance from a list courtesy of Recycle Nation, we were able to formulate this helpful rundown for you!
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- Trees, wreaths, and plants – Did you know that 33 million live Christmas trees are sold each year according to the EPA? Not to mention the various decorative wreaths, poinsettias, and other holiday plants that we use to give our homes holiday cheer.The EPA suggests to check with your local solid waste department to see if they collect trees to create mulch. And if you are interested in finding out more ways to recycle your tree, check out this great article from Earth911.
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- Christmas lights – According to The Spruce, since Christmas lights are made up of a range of materials, they cannot be recycled as easily as plastic bottles. However, many nationwide stores such as Home Depot, Lowes, and Ikea all offer light recycling programs!And if you don’t have any of those stores near you, don’t fret – The Spruce also listed some online recycling programs as well!
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- Holiday paper items – Nothing is more overwhelming on Christmas morning than the pile of wrapping paper that many families rack up while opening presents! Not to mention all the holiday cards you receive.Paper is another material that is greatly under-recycled. Check out the numerous ways you can recycle paper in this post from Conserve Energy Future.
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- Winter clothing – While you cannot technically recycle fabric, you can “freecycle” winter items such as heavy coats and boots! The Freecycle Network makes it really easy to connect with people in your area who are in need of whatever you are willing to give.
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- Fireplace soot – According to Recycle Nation, even the ashes from your fireplace can be recycled in an easy and innovative way. Their article states that the EPA recommends storing the ashes in a container, and then, come spring time, the soot will have developed nutrients that can be used in a DIY compost for a garden!
Looking for More Ways to Recycle Plastics?
Head to our plastics blog! We are always posting articles on how to recycle plastics, plastics industry news, recent innovations, and more. Here are some posts you may enjoy.
Have Your Industrial Plastics Recycled by Shini USA This Winter
If your company is looking to make a change in 2018 and save money by doing so, take a look at our plastics recycling products. We offer a wide variety of machines that can make it easy for your business to take the proper steps to go green and help the environment.
Trusted Customer Service from Shini USA
We are dedicated to providing our customers with top-quality products and customer service, so we always go one step further to give you customer support with caring representatives and skilled technical team members. At Shini USA, not only do you receive a great plastics recycling machine at an unbeatable price, but you also get the gift of an outstanding customer service team as well.
So if you have any specific questions about our products, wondering about ways to recycle plastics, or are interested in working with us, please reach out today.