Your Questions About Recycling
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Filed under Recycling Q & A
William asks…
Recycling?
I was wondering if you were supposed to take caps off plastic jars and place them in separately, if you could reycle plastic desposable containers and if you were allowed to recyle shampoo bottles-like swave and vo5 –and if I can recycle soap containers–like ivory and dish soap. All cleaned out ofcourse. I’m new at this.
The Expert answers:
It all depends, if you are selling it or giving to the city. The city will take care of any plastic whether recyclable or not. They have a system of separating the stuff you give them, anything that can’t be recycled is thrown away. Also having tops on wont bust their big machines. If your selling it then the person who works there can tell you the companies policy of having tops on. If you look at the bottom of the container it will show you a number in side a triangle of arrows. You can check this number with what they are buying to see if they will take it.
Richard asks…
Who makes the big recycle containers for large communities?
This is my #1 goal here. My college University is wanting to make our own bins, the big kind trucks latch onto and dump. We want to paint them and everything. Also, we want them to look like the ones from this Paper Retriever Company by Albibti.
http://www.paperretriever.com/default.asp?ID=1
^ Pictures here ^
Thank you for any help.
The Expert answers:
First. If you are wanting to copy the name and logo, check with the company first to see if they’ll let you. As far as the bins are concerned, the ones i have seen are owned by the refuse or recycling companies. If i understand you correctly you want to make your own bin to be picked up by truck. If that’s correct, i think you’d be best off finding someone to pick up your recyclables first and discuss your project with them. Good luck and have fun!
George asks…
Can I recycle a facial cream container?
I just finished a facial lotion, and the container is a really thick plastic. Can I recycle this with plastic bottles and other plastic products?
The Expert answers:
That kind of thing I would just reuse myself.
Do you have anything it could be used for?
It’s better to wash out something and reuse it then to send it to recycling.
Maria asks…
Questions on starting hotel business using recycled shipping containers. .?
I want to start my own hotel business.
The hotel will be made out of recycled shipping containers.
Please no rude/crude comments, this has been done around the world. Its a good idea, mobole and green.
*************I just realized most people take out loans when starting a business. I will probably need to do this to afford the interior like beds, tvs, not to mention the solar panels. Is this a high risk?? Again I will start as small as possible. How small do you think that should or can be??
My questions are****
What would be the start up costs? For everything except the building/construction itself. Such as licenses, permits any other business start up and anything else you could think of, anything related to employees or anything.
2) should I buy land or rent? If I cant afford to buy should I forget abouy the idea altogether?
3) Will the fact that im using shipping containers make any difference from if I were to build thr traditional way?
4) Im not rich I make like 86k/yr before taxes. Do you think I could afford this? Is it possible to move slow? Like what if it takes years to build the hotel. What would I be needing to do during this time legally? Maintain a building permit? Pay property tax? Could my plan get ruined for takinh too long?
5) Could I lose money? Could I lose more money than I put into the afformentioned?
6)Do you think think this is a good idea why or why not?
I like the idea that if I want to move to another area for better business I can. I also will use solar panels and my business will be very green driven. Please share advice/opinions.
The Expert answers:
Here is how it has been done already!
Http://inhabitat.com/travelodge-shipping-container-hotel/
Your biggest problem will be planning permission and all the jobsworths who want to stop you! OK company like Travelodge has the financial might to take on the bureaucrat’s but it would bankrupt you!
Good idea but think of something else!
Donald asks…
Where can I find affordable recycling container for my house?
Everywhere I look they are so expensive. I’m looking for a three or four bin system. Thanks.
The Expert answers:
There is no reason to buy a recycle specific container. You can look at a variety of choices, I’ve seen people use canvas bags on hooks, old toy sorting bins, unused dresser etc. I use a regular garbage can and put everything into it an sort it when I get to the garbage area.
Jenny asks…
how can I recycle plastic food containers?
I try to either buy food not packaged in these – or to re-use them in any way I can – but its not always possible. The council takes plastic bottles for recycling but not plastic or polystyrene food trays or boxes which seem to just go into land-fill.
Does anyone know of any organisation collecting them either for use or reprocessing/recycling?
The Expert answers:
An aunt used to collect them herself. She never bought paper-plates, but used clean meat trays instead. That was in the days before the absorbent liner was bonded directly to the surface. It may be harder to disinfect them now.
I do not know of a recycling effort, but you can use them for household tasks – craft and paint trays, cushions for mailing items, trays for organizing items in shallow drawers, etc. Egg trays are great for children to sort small items into.
Http://www.obviously.com/recycle/guides/shortest.html
This seems like a pretty simple guide. It doesn’t mention styrofoam.
Charles asks…
Recycling whipped cream aerosol containers?
You know, the whipped cream in the metal cans with the plastic nozzle you bend down, is the cans recyclable? its metal, I would think though, thoughts?
The Expert answers:
If its recyclable it should have recycling symbol with a number in the middle. You can look up the meaning of these numbers. If there is no recyclable sign. I would throw it out because of the gas used to expel the contents of your aerosol can
James asks…
How to recycle Caribou Coffee drink containers …?
I frequently enjoy the Caribou Coffee iced drinks which come in the metal “bottles”. I see a recycling logo on the bottle, but I’m not very familiar with separation, as there are limited recycling programs in our area. Are these recyclable with aluminum cans, and if so, is the cap (also metal) included? Thanks in advance for any answers.
The Expert answers:
Go to www.earth911.org to find a local recycle center
Paul asks…
Safe to use a number 2 recycle container to store gasoline? ( Cat litter plastic container)?
Want to recycle cat litter plasic jug as a container for my lawn mower gasoline. Can this # 2 recycle container safely handle gas?
Thank you for your time to answer my question. I wanted to know that the approvied containers are “different” than just plain #2 plastic and that the behavior of the gas requires this container.
The Expert answers:
Storing gasoline in anything other than a container designed- and approved- for such storage is hazardous. There is the possibility that the container will dissolve, causing leakage and potentially result in a fire. Even containers that cannot dissolve are at risk because gasoline is complex; most gas sold in this country has propane dissolved in it (one reason that gas goes “stale” when in storage is that the propane comes out of solution) to increase the octane number. A tightly sealed container of gasoline that degasses propane can rupture.
Speaking as a firefighter who’s had to put out more than one garage fire- spend the extra bucks on a gas can. Your insurance company will appreciate it.
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