Your Questions About Recycling
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Filed under Recycling Q & A
Mandy asks…
Should grocery stores start charging for shopping bags?
I think that most people have hoards of grocery bags under their sink or above their fridge or going out in the garbage or recycling every week. I think that if stores charged for them, people would re-use their bags. I don’t know how much stores spend of bags, but I imagine there would be some cost savings by reducing the number of bags they purchase.
The Expert answers:
They are charging for the bags. It is part of the overhead tacked onto the price of the items. This is America. Most people do not care about the plastic waste. Some communities do collect used bags for recycle (in fact our local Kroger has bins for bags as you enter the store). I am told by some of the store managers that there can be problems with people bringing in bags and attempting to shoplift.
We would save more oil (used to make plastic and fuel) if people would just stop shopping more than once a week or so). A single small item n a bag is a real waste.
Ruth asks…
what is the best way to recycle plastic bags?
I have a ton of plastic gorcery bags. I try to reuse them by lining my small garbage cans, those end up in the garbage anyway. What about the rest of them? should I take them someplace? I just read that it takes 1000 years to break down a plastic bag. maybe I should switch to just paper, or bring my own cloth bag!
The Expert answers:
A lot of grocery and chain stores now offer a bin to recycle your plastic bags, I recycle mine at my local Safeway. Also a very good idea to purchase cloth grocery bags and help stop the cycle. I’ve seen them for sale at lots of stores for about $1 each. My grocery store also gives you a few cents credit for bringing your own bags.
George asks…
my roommate keeps wanting to do everything separately.. dishes, garbage, recycling, sorting dishes?
i feel like she wants me to not exist and wants to live as if she’s the only one there.
i’m thinking it’s maybe because she’s an only child so she isn’t used to sharing stuff..
but it’s really annoying, she actually goes out of her way and picks my recycling out of the bag.
i don’t want to talk about it with her because .. well i dont know, i feel like it won’t completely solve anything because i dont like her anymore, and i dont think i ever will.
she will also piss me off so i dont want to talk about it..
but what other options do i have?
what are your experiences with roomies liek this?
any input is greatly appreciated 🙂
we’re first years
The Expert answers:
Honestly…waht is she gaining by taking your recycling out of the bag except more owrk for herself???
Anyway, I ha a roomie that was a really big witch…I just finished out the year and separated EVERYTHING. I kept my stuff in my space, hung out at other friend’s dorms and the year ended in no time at all. You just have 2 months.
If I were you, I would challenge her at the end of the semester and just say, what did you accomplish by pushing me away…at least sharing recycling and trash isnt something that would hurt either of you.
Just do what she wants and keep to yourelf…pretend that you live alone…I know it suck and its awkward…but trust me…its easier that way
Lizzie asks…
Can I throw away my computer in the garbage or do I need to smash it up first?
it’s a piece of crap with 10002320392099 viruses on it and it’s old. I dont want to donate it or take it to a computer recycle depot cause i dont want ppl looking at my files and stuff so can I just throw it out in a garbage bag on garbage day? Any suggestions?
The Expert answers:
Some parts, like monitors, contain mercury and other hazardous substances and should not be disposed of in the normal garbage. I don’t know the exact details since I’ve never actually thrown out a more or less working computer part of any kind, so consult with someone in your area who knows something about waste management.
If you’re concerned about someone reading your files, I suggest taking out the hard drive and having some fun with it; physically dismantle it in some way, whether it involves a screwdriver or a sledgehammer.
Daniel asks…
we reuse plastic grocery bags for taking out used cat litter. will they be recycled by our garbage service?
The Expert answers:
No they will go into the landfill with the cat litter.
James asks…
How much of NYC recycling actually gets recycled?
I’m asking this because my uncle works at a landfill in Pennsylvania, and he told me that a good 50% of the garbage they get from NYC is the sorted recycling (from apartment buildings) in clear plastic bags. Anyone know?
The Expert answers:
NYC is only recycling what makes a profit. That is why the stopped collecting the leaves and a few years ago stopped collecting plastic. Paper still makes a profit as does glass. Metal has value. Plastic is only good if giving it separate treatment means it does not cost something to dispose of like the rest of NYC garbage.
Mark asks…
How to recycle cardboard?
Yea, this sounds stupid but i wanna make sure im doing it right….
So we got a lot of cardboard that my dad is to lazy to put in the recycle bags himself
And i put it in the clear blue garbage bags right?
The Expert answers:
Get rid of it in the same way as you would get rid of paper.
Jenny asks…
How much garbage do you have?
On average, how many bags of garbage does your family throw out a week? How large is your family? Do you recycle? If so, what do you recycle?
The Expert answers:
About 6 a week and sorry but i don’t recycle and i have 4 people in my family but a lot of people come over so it makes a big difference.
Michael asks…
Recycling Project question? 10 POINTS!?
We have a month long project on recycling. On the first week that we began the project, my family had used approximately 8 large garbage bags.
We don’t drink soda, so we don’t have cans/bottles.
We have home cooked meals, using maybe 2 canned veggies a week.
We re-use the milk jugs, except for maybe 2 a week.
With all of this information, if we were to start recycling, about how many bags would we use each week, instead of our regular 8 bags?
The Expert answers:
While all of us are talking about recycling solid wastes, how bout recycling (rather re-using) water at home? Waste water from kitchen and bathroom (known as gray water) can be used to water your lawns and gardens. Harvesting rain water is another way to re-use fresh water. All these help conserve gallons of fresh water, especially in a time when fresh water shortage is a growing problem across the globe. Water re-using will not only help conserve water, but also reduce your water bills!
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Your Questions About Recycling
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Susan asks…
Have I blown my chance at ever being accepted into the liberal elite?
I was firing up my wood burning stove in the shop for the 1st time this year. I’m always very careful to use renewable wood products, recycled waste oil to help start the fire. Suddenly I realized that some poor woodland creatures had made a home in either the stove or the flue. I felt so bad listening to their struggle, but I could do nothing.
So what do I do now?
I think I will try to make up for it by taking the crispy critters (when things cool down) down to the local food bank. Will this help my liberal resume?
TRUE STORY
The Expert answers:
You obviously felt bad about it or you wouldn’t have bothered to post it.
But, true to your Republican nature, you are looking for someone more compassionate to transfer you sorrow onto, because you feel it makes you weak.
There is nothing weak about compassion for animals.
Learn to deal with your freakin feelings before you devolve into another nut-case.
Charles asks…
Should’nt we be doing our own recycling instead of taking cans, jars, bottles etc…to Privately owned tips?
who then ship it abroad to recycle it using more energy to do it but we have to pay for the service even if it doesn’t benefit us?? Insane!
We can make home made furniture using papermache cans bottles materials which our now privatised (ex-council) tips make money on.
I save all my aluminium, copper and give steel to a friend who has a lorry it helps him and we get a few quid.
Better than giving it to people who charge you for recycling it.
Fair enough if its battery’s and florescent lights or waste oil as examples, if you can’t use it again.
But if you need a piece of furniture you could make that using your imagination why not save money and energy on doing that instead?
I am thinking of things to make using glass or whatever its crossed my mind before but we really should make an effort.
The thing is they would still charge us for the facilty but we wouldn’t give them the benefit of making more money out of us.
In the UK the ex-council recycling sites are just expensive to run and would never give you anything for your trouble.
I make my own compost but I am lucky to have a garden to do this.
PLEASE NOTE
No point stating the obvious I am not an idiot to the process whys and where fors of the my chosen subject.
I take it out on compost using my pitch fork Ronnie its such a wind up but I am going to get creative in the sludge department its been so long.
The Expert answers:
Your logic is impeccable. I pay for my bins to be emptied, I have to separate the recyclable materials. The council picks up that and takes it to SITA UK who make money from it.
The American idea of paying you to recycle instead of charging you to take money away is a sound one. Straight away aluminium cans wouldn’t be dropped as litter.
One household can’t buck the system, but a town could. All SITA do is sort it into piles and sell it on. We could do that and turn the profit into reducing our council bills.
Furniture is a classic example of a cooperative business from waste, as are bicycles and electrical goods.
Your point is valid, the idea of doing the collection like a rag and bone man with a horse and cart has merit, it’s the environmentally friendly option.
Nancy asks…
If recycling is such a huge componant of saving the earth?
Why is it not easily accessible? They come and take your trash for nothing, or next to nothing depending on where you live. They deliver your mail for nothing. Why not things that should be recycled? I know some cities have programs for picking the crap up, but you still have to seperate it. The government seems to want you to do it, but they only seem to hire people who want to tell you that you are doing it wrong. I work on cars for a living and know more than most about waste. Oil, ferrous and non ferrous metals, plastics, and the trouble and recources that went into making the sh!t in the first place.
Serious answers only.
The Expert answers:
They charge me to take my trash away. They charge me when I buy a recyclable bottle can, or devices, and they charge me when they take it away. They cash in. I must pay to deal with all recycling at my business (fees and registration costs) and I must demonstrate my compliance if they single me out or inspection. Or I will pay a fine or go to jail.
They charge me to deliver mail, and for me to send mail.
Recycling is only useful if it is efficient: prime example: aluminum. This material requires a lot of energy to create from bauxite.
Goofy example: paper. Nearly all paper in the U.S. Is made from trees and plants specifically grown for the purpose. It is extremely bio-degradable if tossed out, the ink is generally soy-based and requires absolutely no energy to maintain while resting on a bookshelf. All web pages, emails, and on-line documents require continuous generation of electricity in order to power server farms. Personal printers, be they laser jets, ink jets or dot matrix, are far more inefficient than a real printing pressing running at 10,000 copies per hours, and the delivery costs are a one time expense, with no need to run to Staples when the toner runs out.
This whole movement is suspect. I remember Cub Scout paper drives and I recycled aluminum and glass before this movement began. We all used Zippo lighters. Now we all use disposable lighters, disposable razors, and plastic cars that you can’t fix.
Any action taken by a populist politician on the basis of emotional propaganda without the cold hard analysis of an Accountant is suspect. In my state, such irrational environmentalism has led to serious ecological harm and only led to bankruptcy of the economy.
Have a blast.
Sandra asks…
1st question: In what direction will an oil spill move if winds are blowing from the south?
a.) the oil will flow towards the north
b.) the oil will flow towards the south
c.) the oil will flow towards the east
d.) the oil will flow towards the west
2nd question: Which of the following is not a method of conserving nonrenewable resources?
a.) reducing waste
b.) discovering new deposits of nonrenewable materials
c.) developing substitute materials
d.) recycling materials
The Expert answers:
I agree with the previous answers except in the first question – if there is a current (river or ocean) stronger than the wind the oil slick will move in the direction of current flow. If they are equal and coming from opposite directions the spill would remain stationary.
However that answer is not on the list. It doesn’t hurt to think beyond the question unless your teacher doesn’t have an inquiring mind.
Ruth asks…
used vegetable oils and glass bottle recycling.?
I have a pub in south northamptonshire and look for someone to collect our used vegetable cooking oil and also our other recyclable waste like glass bottles and cardboard, at the moment we are paying for this to be removed for landfill and we would like to change this.
any ideas?
The Expert answers:
Post a query on the pub bulletin board, you may have someone in your area already making biofuel from WVO, and they would be the ones to talk to. You can locate them on the street as their vehicle will smell like fried food as it idles.
The only catch is potentiallyBritish law, if there is a loophole in the regulations- use it. If not, there is not much they can do to stop you yourself from using it. If you drive a diesel, you can run simply filtered WVO through your vehicle in the warm season. In the cold season you need to dewater it, and probably remove the glycerine. Those parts of the proccess get messy, but you can store it until temps warm up a bit.
Filtering it is as simple as pushing it though a filter media. The whole process is here:
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_svo.html
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html
Picture a Vauxhaul that smells like chicken when it’s on the road. Don’t advertise it too loudly though- the government want’s it’s road taxes.
As for the glass bottles. Have any local home brewers? They might put a few at least to good use. Otherwise check the region to see if you have any potential glass artists. If you know someone who has a Kiln and routinely fires things- flattened wine bottles and others make for interesting conversation pieces that you could sell as art. Chances are there are few outlets for all the glass bottles you have and without a glass factory nearby, not cost effective to ship. A common lament about glass.
Linda asks…
Why do you try to conserve?
I conserve because it makes sense to not waste.
I collect rain water to water my flower beds because it seems like such a waste to let it wash down the gutter.
I watch my speed and aggressiveness in the car to save gas.
My job involves recycling vegetable oil and I hope one day to open a recycle center as there isn’t one close to where I live.
I do it because it just doesn’t make sense to waste and I also like to have sound reasons for what I do and the sky is falling has never been a driver.
Why do you try to conserve?
The Expert answers:
I conserve because I was told so… I conserve because I believe it is right… I conserve not for global warming but it takes me sweat and blood to earn money to pay for the electric and water bills… Waste and I waste my efforts… And after all, this world I live in, the resources are not mine to abuse so I’m not giving myself the right to indulge on everything…
Sharon asks…
Can Drain Oil be a valuable resource ?
When I change oil in my car I have some drain oil, I know I can take it to the recycle place, BUT that seems a waste. Can I filter it somehow and reuse it in the car? or can I put some in an oil can and just use it to oil hinges and such, or can I use it as bar oil for my chain saw, or can I mix it with gas for 2 cycle engines, or ??? other uses ???
The Expert answers:
No. It is full of contaminants that need to be taken out. The oil will be recycled by a facility designed just for that. It will destroy any two cycle engine.
Helen asks…
Why do some conservatives resist the idea of global warming and going green?
I would think that NOW one would realize how big of an effect human pollution has on the environment, even if we are not the cause of global warming, landfills and wastes, the effects of not recycling, using too much energy and oil still takes a lot out on the environment and our civilization.
So are conservatives STILL turning a blind eye to environmental issues? If you dont believe it is that big of a deal or that we have that much of an effect, what’s the problem with at least going green? I dont see why people fight it.
The Expert answers:
Mankind is the only creature that does not belong to this world
.. .. ..
We are the only life form on the planet that if put out in the wild naked with out anything to fend or find with we 90% would be dead with in a week time
. .. .
We are the only creature that is destructive of everything we touch
.. .. ..
Humanity is the only life form that will kill each other for pure spite of color religion what country you live in what sect of the race you are
.. .. ..
And to think that humanity is responsible for the distruction of the earth is saying a
.. .. ..
Beaver did not make that dam on the creak that caused it to flood
.. .. ..
And we have only gotten started
.. .. ..
To top it off we now have the sun to help out in cooking the planet
.. …
The sun has been getting hotter and hotter
.. .. ..
Http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/002242.html
.. .. ..
Mars is proof the sun is getting hotter also takes a little while for this page to load
.. .. ..
Http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1720024.ece
.. .. ..
Mary asks…
Recycling – what is on the Council list in your area?
In mine it’s:-
Newspapers, Magazines, Telephone Directories, Cardboard, Glass, Plastic Bottles (milk), Batteries, Car Oil, Clothes (clean), Glasses (that you can wear), Garden Waste
The Expert answers:
Collected from the house in Glasgow
paper
plastic
glass all different colours.
Tin
aluminium
all garden waste
we have council recycling sites where we can take things
and we have a great website called freecycle.com where we offer anything we don’t want and ask for anything we do……………all sorts of things get offered from furniture, books push chairs cookers. Corks. Pretty well everything finds a use.
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Your Questions About Recycling
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Filed under Recycling Q & A
Jenny asks…
How can i recover data deleted from recycle bin?
I deleted my working files mistakenly and emptied the recycle bin. Next week, i will hand over these files to my boss. Who can help me?
The Expert answers:
Deleting won’t make the data on a computer erase permanently(Even permanently deleted with “Delete + Shift” or emptied recycle bin).Those deleted files are still stored on your PC, they’re just invisible or inaccessible. You can recover them with data recovery software. But once the deleted files were overwritten by new data,they are gone for good.
I used to recover deleted files from my laptop with Tenorshare Data Recovery.
Anyway,you can download it and scan your PC for free to preview whether you can recover your deleted files. You can get it from:
http://www.bing.com/search?q=Tenorshare+Data+Recovery
Note: Do not save your recovered files on C: drive.
George asks…
How do I restore items that have been deleted in the recycle bin?
I want to restore a specific folder that was moved to the recycle bin, but I can’t because it was emptied. How do I get it back?
The Expert answers:
Http://download.cnet.com/PC-Inspector-File-Recovery/3000-2248_4-10118663.html?tag=mncol works for me. If you have an overwrite software installed that you have run such as Ccleaner or Sweepi restoration with this freeware will not be possible. Simply “erasing” only removes the “road sign” that directs the OS to the file. Simple deletion doesn’t erase the file which is why this programs can recover it. Of course Sweepi and Ccleaner by default do not overwrite. It is up to the consumer to choose that option.
Charles asks…
Is there anyway to restore files that were deleted from the recycle bin?
I accidentally emptied my recycle bin yesterday, and it had a few pictures that I really wanted. Is there anyway to get them back? Preferably a way that costs no money?
The Expert answers:
Yes there is a way that is free.
Visit
http://www.piriform.com/recuva
There is no 100% way of getting the files back, but there is still hope.
Michael asks…
How to view mails that are deleted from recycle bin ?
My mails were accidentally deleted and now I want to review them.How do I get them back from the recycle bin ?
The Expert answers:
Go to bin and restore and use it
Sandy asks…
How do I get my recycle bin back?
I accidentally deleted the recycle bin shortcut off of my desktop. I want the icon back on my desktop. Where do I find it and make a new shortcut? Please help! Thanks.
The Expert answers:
Restore Recycle Bin (Windows XP):
1. Right-click an empty area of your desktop
2. Select Properties
3. Click the Desktop tab
4. Click the Customize button
5. Click Restore Default
6. Exit all windows and restart your computer
Vista:
1. Right click the Vista Desktop
2. Click on Personalize
3. Select: ‘Change desktop icons’
4. At the Desktop Icon Settings, place a tick next to: ‘Recycle Bin’.
Lizzie asks…
Where can I find the recycle bin on my computer?
I have windows vista and ive had an error occurring forever with the dock,
it wont load anymore. i didnt really care about it because i only had crap on that thing anyway.
but the recycle bin was on there and my computers hard drive is filling up and i think it might be because of everything in my recycle bin?
with the dock gone, i have no clue where it is, can anyone help me?
thanks.
The Expert answers:
Your problem likely has a very simple solution. In any version of Windows, by default, the Recycle Bin is always present on the desktop; unless you go into the Controls to disable it. Simply click the start button, search for “icons”, and click the result that says “show or hide common icons on the desktop”. From there, it’s pretty straightforward.
I hope that this fixes it, but if it doesn’t, feel free to e-mail me for more options. Otherwise, you can also run the Disk Cleanup utility if your hard drive gets too packed. In there, you also have instant access to emptying the Recycle Bin.
Steven asks…
How do you bring your recycle bin back?
I have windows vista and I accidentally deleted my recycle bin. How do I get it back so I can see it on the desktop?
The Expert answers:
First, go to ‘Start>Control Panel>Appearance and Personalization>Personalization’. Once you are there, look at the pane on the pane on the left side of the screen, click ‘Change Desktop Icons’>Check the checkbox next to ‘Recycle Bin’, and hit enter. Good luck!
Robert asks…
I have accidentally deleted the recycle bin from my desktop. How can I bring it back?
I have accidentally deleted the recycle bin from my desktop. How can I bring it back?
The Expert answers:
It just a shortcut……..
Paul asks…
How do i get my recycle bin back on my desktop?
For no reason, my recycle bin has disappeared off my desktop and i dont know how to open it or get it back!
The Expert answers:
Right click on start button>click explorer>scroll down to recycling bin>click and drag to desktop
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Your Questions About Recycling
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Filed under Recycling Q & A
Sandra asks…
Why aren’t all items with a recycling symbol usable by recycling companies?
The Expert answers:
Because recycling companies only want plastics they can sell. Things like polystyrene are SO cheap to make that collecting and re-processing them does not make economic sense. Some plastics like polypropylene or vinyl are either difficult to re-process due to the nature of the plastic, or are used in small volume/niche products that make collection too difficult.
William asks…
Help!! WHat is the meaning of the international recycling symbol?
also 6 names of products that contain this symbol.
here is a pic of the symbol
http://s245.photobucket.com/albums/gg65/smiling_alligator/?action=view¤t=recycle.jpg
The Expert answers:
It represents the idea that some materials can be used and reused indefinetly, without having to use any more of the Earth’s natural resources.
Glass, for example, can be melted down to make new glass, without compromising the quality of the material. Paper can be broken down to make more paper. Some cloth fibers can be made into new cloth, or paper. Steel and iron can be resmelted to make new products, and so on. You may be riding in a car that contains metal that has been in several cars before yours.
Steven asks…
Is a Recycling Symbol (a triangle sign) on bottles, which do not have a RESIN number, also reusable?
I learned that bottles with RESIN number below “5” release cancer-causing chemicals…
The Expert answers:
They must be if they have the sign on it. (A little general for most of my answers)
Marissa;)
Thomas asks…
On any product ( for ex. Plastic food container) . There is a recycling symbol with a number insider ( ie. 1,2
On any product ( for ex. Plastic food container) . There is a recycling symbol with a number inside ( ie. 1,2,3,…). I understand that they are the numbers that tell you what class the product resides into the chain of recycling. ( Which one is the most biodegradable, etc…) I want to know where do I read about this classifications? As I have a food container in my hand which says ‘6’ inside the triengle.
Thank you in advance.
The Expert answers:
Here is a link which describes the differences in the number classification system.
Http://recycling.stanford.edu/recycling/caq_plastic.html
#1 PETE: Polyethylene Terephthalate.
Commonly used in soft drinks, juice, and cough syrup containers and microwave trays.
#2 HDPE: High Density Polyethylene.
Commonly used in milk jugs, detergent and shampoo bottles.
#3 V: Polyvinyl Chloride.
Commonly used in film for meat packaging and some rigid plastic containers.
#4 LDPE: Low Density Polyethylene.
Commonly used in newspaper and grocery bags and butter cups lids.
#5 PP: Polypropylene.
Commonly used in yogurt containers and deli trays.
#6 PS: Polystyrene.
Commonly used in plastic cups and plates and to-go containers.
#7 OTHER: Other mixed resins.
Commonly used in mixed plastic containers or plastic products.
My local recyclers take only #1 and 2. Perhaps the options are greater in larger towns…?
Mark asks…
I have old plastic (containers, bottles) to recycle, w/ no triangular recycling symbol. Can they be recycled?
Serious answers please.
I found old unusable dirty plastic bottles and containers at my mom’s when we were packing, when she was moving. I brought a bunch home. I sorted through them today and noticed they don’t have the triangular recycling symbol. I am afraid to put them in the regular recycling because I am sure that when they get them for recycling they will throw them out and I don’t want that to happen. They are old, so probably no recycling symbol back then. Everything is recyclable, I just have to find the right recycling program. Are there any out there?
Reuse – yuck, no, they are disgusting. Landfill – I hope I won’t have to. But reprocessed? What’s that exactly?
Technically it can be done… but you’re telling me to throw it out? If it technically can be done, it can be done. So how can it be done? What should I do? I would be willing to go through whatever I have to to recycle them and keep out of already overflowing, expanding and multiplying landfills.
No one here gets out alive: Yeah, that is what I also was going to do, check with my city if they know of recycling facilities around here, or close by, or if they take this stuff themselves.
Karen: Thanks! Yeah, a lot more people should put in the effort in checking if certain things can be recycled, etc. So many people would not care and toss it in the trash – our landfills and planet have enough of trash.
The Expert answers:
I have come across these bottles from time to time. They have expanded the numbers they allow to be recycled, so, I put mine in with the recycle hoping they are able to work with it! I think some of us put a lot more time into thinking how to recycle correctly than others. I do wish more people cared about recycling and doing it right. I commend you my friend. Keep up the good work!
P.s. Some people get paid to take out all the random junk that goes into recycle~ they are probably thanking all our indecision and hoping we are erring on the safe side!!!
Helen asks…
why is there no recycling symbol on tin cans? can tin cans still be added to the recycling bins?
The Expert answers:
Yeah some can does not have recycle symbol. Like coca cola, lemonade tins can not be thrown in to recyclable trash. Might be because that contains little bit amount of food. I wish we could wash them dry them and put it into recycle trash.
Ruth asks…
Anyone know what the heat setting symbol is on a Luxaire heat pump?
Flatting at the moment and we have a Luxaire heatpump , We have a remote and we are unsure of what symbols represent what functions. There is a Icicle, Sun , Droplet , Recycling symbol and a fan one. It may seem semi obvious but some of the things seem to not represent what you would think! We just need to know the basic heat setting 🙂
The Expert answers:
The sun icon.
Richard asks…
What is the “K” symbol printed on food packaging mean?
I just tossed the paper/cardboard outerwrap of a package of yogurt into the recycling bin. On further inspection I noticed it didn’t have a recycling symbol, but a “K” instead. Does that mean it can’t be recycled. And if not, is it because of the ink coverage?
The Expert answers:
It means “Kosher,” that is, the contents conform to the Jewish dietary laws. On a yogurt package, that would generally mean there were no meat products (even gelatin) used in the yogurt, only dairy.
Hope that helps.
Laura asks…
Does anyone know why a recycling center will not accept plastic bottles without the label?
Hi-Does anyone know why the label on the plastic bottles must remain on the bottle? The recycle symbol is generally imprinted (for lack of better word) or stamped onto the bottle itself. The person said he did not accept bottles without labels and proceeded to separate them from the others. What happens to these naked bottles? Are they tossed or do they get thrown in with the rest of regular pile to be sent to the same place? Has this always been the requirements. If so, why?
The Expert answers:
Only thing that would come to mind is that they may have had an incident at that recycler with some container being brought in that had a hazardous substance in it and by requiring that all the containers have a label they may feel safer that it won’t happen again. But this is a guess I truly do not know and I have volunteered many times at different recycling facilities.
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Your Questions About Recycling
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Filed under Recycling Q & A
Maria asks…
Can Sorting of Recycling material from garbage can be used for community service?
The Expert answers:
I think it could count as long as someone is there to supervise you so that there is proof that you actually did do it. Confirm first with your school, probation officer, or whoever it is you have to confirm with.
Thomas asks…
What do you do with your Garbage/Recycling?
What are the Programs in your Community?
Drop off
private hauler
The Expert answers:
Garbage to private hauler; recyclables to local recycling company that pays for everything except plastic and glass; compostables in backyard bin.
Sandy asks…
is recycling garbage make my garbage bill cheaper?
my bill is like around 41 will my bill be cheaper if i recycle or will it make it cost more
The Expert answers:
I don’t know where you live so I can’t say for sure. All I can tell you for sure is “if” you are charged a flat rate, recycling won’t change your bill one way or the other. If however, you are charged according to how much garbage has to be picked up, it will depend on the company’s policy.
Where I live, recycling is encouraged but there is no discount on our trash bill. It’s a flat rate regardless of how much garbage we have.
George asks…
what might be the findings or results in garbage recycling?
can you please give me idea about that??
The Expert answers:
That we can recycle over 60% of what the average household throws away. I live in an county that has a state of the art Materials Recovery Facility. They use both manual and mechanical means to sort and divert recyclables from the waste stream. They are able to divert over 60% of the household and business waste to be recycled.
Steven asks…
What do recycling centers do about a curbside garbage can with stuff that should’nt be in a recycling blue can?
The Expert answers:
They separate it and haul it to the dump..
Joseph asks…
STATS. Suppose each month, a household generates an average of 28 pounds of newspaper for garbage/recycling.?
Assume the standard deviation is 2 pounds. If a household is selected at random, find the probability of its generating more than 30.6 pounds per month. Assume the variable is approximately normally distributed. Answer in percentage to the nearest hundredth of a percent.
The Expert answers:
Z-value = (30.6 – 28)/2 = 1.3
looking up the right tail of a z-table,
reqd. Probability = 9.68 %
Mary asks…
i want to start the recycling industry of waste garbage,is this possible?
i want to start the recycling industry of waste garbage,i want to seperate the polithin automatically and recycle it, and from other waste i wnt to produce the good desi fertizer to the formers to use in the cultivated land is this possible
The Expert answers:
Yes…u can…
David asks…
Recycling or Garbage? Easy points!?
My birds (5) poop a lot. I usually use wood shavings and also paper to clean their cages. When the wood shavings are filled with poop I throw it out in the garbage. I think that’s where it goes. But the paper i don’t know because it has poop all over it so should it go in the Garbage or recycling?
The Expert answers:
It would all go in the garbage unless you have a compost bin or pile. It would be a wonderful addition to the compost.
Robert asks…
how does recycling help garbage men?
RECYCLING!
The Expert answers:
It really doesnt help garbage men. Well yes it does. It helps garbage men and our ecosystem.
Garbage men- less weight being picked up because recycling includes paper, glass, plastic, and some metals.
Ecosystem- less landfills. It is said that 1 plastic bottle usually will not decompose for 50,000 years
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Your Questions About Recycling
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Filed under Recycling Q & A
Carol asks…
In Ohio, Is it illegal to take aluminum cans from curbside recycle bins (on trash night)?
In Ohio, Is it illegal to take aluminum cans from curbside recycle bins (on trash night)?
I know you can take trash as long as it’s on the curb.
My bike broke and I need to make money anyway I can. I figured by taking the aluminum cans from peoples recycle bins I could make a few bucks.
I have two refrigerator motor compressors. They seems to be welded together because I can’t open them. I have a feeling that there is copper inside. How can I open them?
all freon and liquids have already leaked out of both compressors, so there is no danger. Please tell me how to open it.
The Expert answers:
It is very illegal! You can be charged with theft. In my town a handicapped man was charged with theft but was let off as he could not understand the charges (yes he was mentally handicapped). He did not know there was such a law and did not think it was steeling as it was in the trash. The jury let him go ( you feel lucky or stupid?) If you are going to go through that much effort why don’t you just go and mow some yards or clean something up for someone instead of being a thief? (sw ohio)
Nancy asks…
Where do restored items from the recycle bin go on vista home premium?
I restored all items in the recycle bin but don’t know where they’ve gone?
The Expert answers:
They SHOULD go back to the original folder. If you still can’t find them “search” for them.
Betty asks…
How do i recover a deleted file from my recycle bin?
I accidently clicked empty recycle bin when i actually wanted to take a file out of the recycle bin and put it back in it’s folder.
Please help
Thanks!
The Expert answers:
Http://recuva.com
Try recuva. It is a free recovery tool from the makers of Ccleaner. It works well as long as the files have not been overwritten or corrupted. Good luck!!!
Susan asks…
How to uncover deleted items from Recycle Bin?
I accidentally permanently deleted items from my recycle bin and I need to recover them fast. Please help. I have a Toshiba laptop that’s running windows 7 if that explains anything.
The Expert answers:
Yes, it is technically possible to recover any deleted file (Even those removed from the Recycle Bin) by using recovery software.
Check out the software from link blow.
Http://www.asoftech.com/adr/
Good luck!
Laura asks…
How to completely delete data/files after emptying recycle bin?
So there are some files/pictures that I wanted to delete, which I did. They went to the recycle bin. I then emptied the recycle bin. I know that there is technically a way to “recover” these deleted files. I want this to not be possible. How can I completely delete these files that were emptied from the recycle bin so that they are not recoverable? Is disk clean-up an option?
The Expert answers:
Dere r utilities available which allow you to destructively erase a file, a disk, or a partition. This is usually accomplished by overwriting the existing data on the disk or file with either random numbers or a series of zeros and ones. If you want to make it difficult for people to recover deleted data from your disk. You could say that these tools are the computer equivalent of a file shredder, an electronic or digital file shredder for files, hard disks, etc.
Here are list of such tools
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897443.aspx
http://eraser.heidi.ie/
Maria asks…
How could I legally place public recycling bins?
Do I need to go to my local mayor and get approval? I want to propose a creative idea to get people to recycle instead of litter the local environment. If their is a way for it to work, what ways can I get sponsored?
The Expert answers:
1. You cannot place anything on private property without the permission of the owner. That’s trespassing or illegal conversion
2. You cannot place anything on public property without the permission of the government entity in charge of maintaining it. Also trespassing or illegal conversion.
3. You even may need to have permission to place it on your own property, depending on the zoning laws.
As to getting someone else to foot the bill, you have to do that yourself. After all, it’s your project and you need to do SOME of the work involved. The best place for this would be in a shopping district. Maybe the local chamber of commerce will sponsor you.
Talk to your town’s sanitation department for guidance as to where to place them and how much they cost. Remember, if you put them out you have to have a plan to empty them and dispose of the contents in an environmentally responsible way.
Daniel asks…
How to recover images deleted in the Recycle Bin?
Hey
I was wondering is there a way of recovering images lost by deleting them via the Recycle Bin, possibly with the use of CCleaner, as I was under the impressive technically they remain.
I used a software that someone suggested here, but it didn’t recover any of the one’s I lost, and the images were small in size compared to the original size.
All comments are appreciated!
The Expert answers:
Yes, it is technically possible to recover any deleted file (Even those removed from the Recycle Bin) by using recovery software. Check out the software from link blow.
Http://www.asoftech.com/apr/
Good luck!
Chris asks…
I accidentally erased the Recycle Bin Icon on my desktop in Windows Vista. How do I re-create one?
I’m talking about the icon that shows trash in it when full and then changes to empty appearance after the recycle bin is emptied. Thanks for the help!
The Expert answers:
If you have vista – you right click on your desktop .. Go to personalization … Then desktop icon settings (located on the left side!) …. Then click [x]Recycle Bin and it should appear back on your desktop.
John asks…
How do I get rid of the recycle bin icon on my desktop backround?
I got the RocketDock program so my recycle bin is on that so id like to get rid of the other icon on my backround and it wont let me!
The Expert answers:
Right Click on Desktop, view, uncheck show desktop
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Your Questions About Recycling
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Filed under Recycling Q & A
Sandra asks…
where in Michigan can i get paid to recycle soup/tin cans?
You know the can’s your veggies, soups, coffee, etc. come in well i want to know where i can return them to, to be recycled and get money for… in michigan… thanks
The Expert answers:
Your neighbour will do it for free
David asks…
What can I do to recycle my cat food aluminum cans in Michigan?
My cat consumes about 80 cans per month (the small metallic cans). Do any of you know how to recycle them or what to do with them, other than throw them in a garbage bag…
It seems so much WASTE!
I live in metro-Detroit, Michigan
The Expert answers:
Check with your city. A lot of them have recycling programs. Where I live in Everett, WA, we have three bins – one for Newspaper, one for Mixed Paper and one for Cans and Bottles. I only recently started putting the cat food cans in there. It’s not really that hard to rinse them out and toss em in! If your city itself doesn’t have bins for your house or apartment I’m sure there’s places you can drop them off at.
Donald asks…
Where can I recycle water bottles in Michigan?
I know stores take pop bottles, but what about water bottles? If they dont take water bottles, where can I take them or how can I find out where to take them? I dont care about getting a refund or anything, I just dont want to throw them away.
The Expert answers:
Take them to the dump; there is always a “plastic” section that will take anything ya got 🙂
Donna asks…
Where Can I Find A List of Returnable Cans/Bottles?
I live in Michigan and run a recycling program at my high school. Where can I find a list of what we can and/or cannot return for some profit? Ex: we CAN return Diet Coke, but CANNOT return Aquafina. We want to recycle, but the extra profit for our recycling club will help us with our green projects.
The Expert answers:
I don’t know of a list…but I live in Michigan too and I know that the basic “rule of thumb” is that anything with carbonation is returnable.
For example, all pop bottles and cans (coke, diet coke, pepsi, etc), all energy drinks (Monster, Rock Star, Red Bull, etc), carbonated alcoholic beverages (beer, malt liquor, flavored beers such as Smirnoff, Joose, Four Loko, Sparks, etc) are all returnable.
Non-carbonated beverages are usually NOT returnable. Examples include bottled water, fruit juices, iced tea, liquor, wine, etc.
Hope this helps
John asks…
what is the definition of recyclable metal cans?
i’m writing bill on mandatory recycling in the state of michigan for youth in government,
and i need to know what the correct definition of recyclable metal cans is.
thanks !
The Expert answers:
Um, meal cans that you can recycle?
Ken asks…
In michigan, where can I go to get paid for aluminium cans?
274I know of several places I can go to rycycle and I am planning on recycling much more in the new year, however I
would like to know if anyone knows in michigan if there is a place to get paid for the cans and whatnot. Thanks
The Expert answers:
Cans can be recycled at any grocery store in Michigan. They are usually in front or rear of store, and give you a ticket for your value to take to the check-out. Works with glass, and plastic too.
Nancy asks…
Is there anywhere near walled lake michigan that I can recycle scrap wood and particle board?
I’m moving. I have some old furniture that is falling apart. It is not in good enough shape to reuse. I would like the wood and particle board to be recycled.
The Expert answers:
Here is a short list on pdf file
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-ess-recycling-rmmd-scraplumber_206665_7.pdf
Joseph asks…
recycling my old computer in michigan?
i have a 7 yea old computer that still works, but has a few things wrong with it. i want to give it to an organization or something that will put it to good use for someone else to have or something, becuase it seems like a waste to throw it away. please give me a site that will help me, i live in MI. also, what do i have to do to my computer before i can recycle it? because i still have my data on it and everything, it just isn’t plugged in. what do i do about this and how can i recycle it? thank you
The Expert answers:
There are a million people like you out there with old systems so most organizations aren’t interested in taking them off your hands. I can’t help with local recycling laws or sites but I do know that you need to remove the hard drive from the system if it has any personal information–especially if you used it to manage your personal finances or chat with your mistress. 😉
You have two choices when it comes to cleaning off your hard drive.
1) Take it apart and break the disks with a hammer.
2) Format the disk and then (and this is a must) use a program like Erase to completely obliterate the data recorded there-on. Simply formatting will not erase the data. It’s relatively easy to retrieve with free software.
Hth
Lisa asks…
What can you recycle and get refunded for in Michigan?
I know you may recycle pop bottles, cans…but I wanted to know if you can recycle things like a shampoo bottle or something. As for glass, can you recycle things like wine bottles, pickle jars, etc? Remember, I am asking about the recycling where you get 10 cents per bottle or can. THANK YOU!
The Expert answers:
The only items you can get 10 cents for are items that you pay the 10 cent deposit on. Shampoo bottles, etc will not work. Most places do it via machine that reads the barcode and knows exactly what product is being presented.
If you live in Michigan, just return anything that you’ve put a deposit on. If you don’t live in Michigan, and have not paid the deposit, you may want to know that it is illegal to cross state lines and try to claim reimbursements for deposits that have not been purchased in state. It is a prosecutable offense.
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Your Questions About Recycling
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Ruth asks…
What are some recycling crafts similar to this one?
http://www.instructables.com/id/Soda-Tab-Chain-Necklace/
recycled, but still looks nice or is usefull
The Expert answers:
There are loads of ideas for recycling crafts online:
http://www.google.com/search?q=recycling+crafts
But you might also want to check out this message board at Craftster.org called “Reusing, Recycling, Recrafting”:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?board=3.0
(…the “topics” listed with gray backgrounds are permanent “sticky” topics… They’re listed before the regular current messages)
HTH,
Diane B.
William asks…
Can anyone give me an idea on how to recycle a plastic bottle or a tin can into a recycled craft?
Please help me!!This is my project and I really need your idea…Thanks…
The Expert answers:
For the bottle. Cut a few square or circle holes in the side of the bottle on either side and line bottom of two shapes with duck tape or clay that hardens so it wont cut the feet of birds. Cut high enough so you can fill with bird sead without falling out if bottle swings in the wind. Punch a couple of hole in the cap and hage with a wire, loop through and screw cap back on, and ta da… You have a bird feeder. Paint out side with suncatcher paint or other paint the will not ware off when wet.
The can can be made into a pencil holder or a can with a cardboard/thinboard lid covered with cloth. Decorate as you wish. You can store a collection inside or something small. Use ribbon or cord to make a latch so it wont open when knocked over. Use the same for a hinge for the lid. The sky is the limit or the limit of the store you buy from to decorate as you wish.
Have fun.
Charles asks…
Where can I find true junk to recycle in crafts?
I’m an avid crafter who also loves to be “green” whenever possible. I’ve worked with recycled crafts from things I have and thrift store stuff, as well as just plain “found” stuff to make some of these crafts, and I’m looking to branch out some more. I’ve seen some really cool pieces made out of scrap parts and things like license plates, etc. and would like to start working with more things like that that are truly saved from their “final” resting place.
Does anyone know good places to find things like license plates or other random things (traffic lights, old toy parts, etc), aside from thrift stores, for cheap? I’m thinking auto scrap yards, but where else?
The Expert answers:
Craig’s List. Freecycle. Look down (I get tons of stuff off the sidewalk. If I am actively looking for things, I take a walk in the shopping district or around the schools, especially the elementary school in my neighborhood.) Go to a flea market an hour before closing when ppl start piling the stuff they don’t want to lug home near the trashcans. Go to the Dumpster behind a Goodwill. They aren’t allowed to take in stuff that was left while they were closed and usually just throw it out.
Steven asks…
Can you come up with a name for my new recycled jewellery craft business?
Hi Everyone…..
Can you help me?
I am starting a little business up selling my jewellery designs. All my jewellery creations are made from recycled materials and are handmade.
Can you please come up with a catchy name for me?
Many thanks
Anna
The Expert answers:
You could take the phrase “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” and turn it around a bit to get a name…. “one woman’s trash” or something like that?
Richard asks…
what are good crafts to make at home?
im bored and i love making crafts. i like to make crafts like the ones from the big a*s book of crafts and things that are recycled. does anyone have links to places with ideas, book titles, or just ideas from things they made?
The Expert answers:
Http://www.craftster.org
Ken asks…
what else can you make with recycled material?
i can make beads with plastic soda bottles and drink straws. and i can make beads and ashtrays with aluminum soda cans. what easy things can you craft out of recycled items? items you can actually sell online.
The Expert answers:
I’ve seen a great site where she sells various kinds of beads she makes from newspapers and magazine pages, and from envelopes with the printed security patterns. I’ve also seen some fun jewelry made from pieces from incomplete jigsaw puzzles. Bracelets and belts made from can pop-tabs can do well. I’m sure you’ve seen the bags made from drink pouches, and if you have the time, purses made from candy or gum wrappers, or from chip bags, have also sold well.
Good luck!
Paul asks…
Does anyone have any fun crafting ideas using recycled materials?
My girlfriend posted this blog today of some lingerie she crafted last night. http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/05/16/diy-easy-eco-lingerie/ I think they are totally fun and hot and was wondering if anyone else had any fun ideas to share.
The Expert answers:
Well, this isn’t lingerie or anything, but it is recycled! Use broken crayons and decorate jars with them. Here’s the link for how to do it.
Http://www.ehow.com/video_2288262_decorate-jarsglasses-melted-crayons.html
Thomas asks…
home-made crafts for preteen girl—I’m watching my baby sister next week and I need to keep her busy!?
she’s 13, and she needs something to keep her busy this summer…we have a lot of craft supplies just sitting around the house (felt, pipe cleaners, beads, embroidery thread,pom-poms, wooden/cardboard boxes, paints/brushes/canvas, sewing stuffs, etc…) basically I’m an avid crafter and everytime hobby-lobby or michaels has a sale I stock up…now she is 13 but she hasn’t done any of the things I did by the time I was 13…she can’t sew, paint, or craft at all … and … here’s the kicker …. she wants to learn how to craft…so where do I start teaching her? what is a good beginners project? I started selling crafts I made with my mom when I was her age…but she never has done anything like that…my mom really got me going on recycled crafts (like crafts made from empty pickle jars and cardboard tp tubes) so I keep a stock of those types of things as well and that’s primarily what I want to teach her (because it’s the easier, more creative and more fun type of crafting)
any ideas
The Expert answers:
Ask her what is hot in school/with her friends at the moment, like hemp jewelry, lanyards or friendship bracelets, (all kinds of macrame, any kind of macrame might do, otherwise, any string will let you teach her the moves and she can get the right string next shopping expedition:
http://www.bluemoon.net/~dotoran/
http://www.curbly.com/threadbanger/posts/1979-How-to-Make-A-Macrame-Bracelet-or-Necklace-
http://www.mediamessage.com/kayton/GirlScouts/bracelet.htm
Or make some jewelry with the beads you have around, add little figures you cut out of felt if you want to do something a little more adventures, either a single layer of felt, or two layers with a bit of cotton-wool for a filling.
Make some container as next ‘project’ a nice and quick job so she can take her new jewels home in a nice package.
Whatever you do, keep the first few projects short, the kind you can finish in an afternoon, so she can see the results.
But after the first day you can lengthen the time per project and when she goes home again you can give her a bigger project that you together have just started.
Making a scrap-book can be done besides the other crafts, you can make a page for each craft project, using the left-over materials, print-out of instructions, photos you took during the day, if you have any and so on.
You may get her to make a ‘recipe’ book for all her crafts that way, which will help her to remember how she has done each project.
Maria asks…
I’m looking for crafts to make with tin cans.?
I sell recycled crafts at the local farmers market and would like to try some tin can crafts.
Can you put web sites or links to pictures. I have to see it to understand it.
The Expert answers:
I congratulate you for the excellent idea of using recycled materials to do your crafts. I do make recycled crafts but just for entertaining my nephews. Here are some of the websites I already had saved on my bookmarks related with tin crafts:
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11009
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11113
http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=456
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/tincancrafts/
http://www.talkingchild.com/craftscoffee.aspx
There is also a book called “The Fine Art of the Tin Can: Techniques and Inspirations” that you can buy through Amazon or Ebay. This book have lots of images that can give you inspiration for new designs. You can see the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Fine-Art-Tin-Can-Inspirations/dp/1887374027
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Your Questions About Recycling
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Mark asks…
Which quote do you like the most?
I have to speak the “thought of the day” in school – Which one do you think i should choose?
# I laugh, I love, I hope, I try I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry. And I know you do the same things too, So we’re really not that different, me and you.
#The trouble with being punctual is that nobody’s there to appreciate it.
#Experience is that marvellous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
#Since light travels faster than sound, people appear bright until you hear them speak.
#One thing you can’t recycle is wasted time.
#Never invest your money in anything that eats or needs painting.
#I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they’d never expect it.
#Seven out of ten people suffer from hemmorhoids. Does this mean that the other three enjoy it.
thanks…^^
The Expert answers:
For School it is
I laugh, I love, I hope, I try I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry. And I know you do the same things too, So we’re really not that different, me and you.
(the message is we are same)
&
One thing you can’t recycle is wasted time.
(the message is never wast time)
Thanks for good Quotes
Sharon asks…
Hello, my fellow P&Sers! Which of these kind sentences do you like the most?
1.Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
2.A sharp tongue can cut my own throat.
3.If I want my dreams to come true, I mustn’t oversleep.
4.Of all the things I wear, my expression is the most important.
5.The best vitamin for making friends….. B1.
6.The happiness of my life depends on the quality of my thoughts.
7.The heaviest thing I can carry is a grudge.
8. One thing I can give and still keep…is my word.
9. I lie the loudest when I lie to myself.
10. If I lack the courage to start, I have already finished.
One thing I can’t recycle is wasted time.
11. Ideas won’t work unless ‘ I ‘ do.
12. My mind is like a parachute…it functions only when open.
13. The 10 commandments are not a multiple choice.
14. The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime! It is never too late to become what I might have been.
The Expert answers:
1.Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
Second choice:
14. The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime! It is never too late to become what I might have been.
You have some good sayings listed here!
Ruth asks…
Is it not about time we banned the production of waste rather than trying to dispose of it?
If the government is serious about preventing waste going to landfill why does it permit unsolicited mail to be delivered to people’s homes?
There has been much talk recently of householders being charged for the amount of waste they generate but no talk of reducing the amount of unsolicited waste being delivered to them. While fully supportting the principal of recycling I fail to understand why householders should pay a levy to allow them to dispose of materials they did not want in the first place. Would it not be better to tax the producers of waste rather than those receiving it?
Business is the source of most household waste with excessive packaging and advertising literature leading the way. A few days ago I received a copy of “Yellow Pages” which was not wanted and not removed from it’s plastic bag before I deposited it in the dustbin; what a waste!
When will businesses be forced to stop producing these vast quantities of unwanted rubbish?
The Expert answers:
The companies should be taxed for making waste but they would only increase the cost of their products to make up for it.and charging people for the amount of waste will only cause people to dump rubbish .
Lisa asks…
Isn’t recycling really just pointless?
It wastes your time.
It wastes your money; trash disposal is cheaper.
It wastes the money of manufacturers who are forced to use recycled material.
It wastes the time of workers who could have otherwise been productively employed.
It does not significantly reduce the use of landfills, nor is there any shortage of space for them.
It does not significantly reduce the use of natural resources, nor is there any shortage of them.
It does not significantly reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, nor is there any reason to.*
It adds needless trucks on the street.
* The Great Global Warming Swindle http://anonym.to/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TqqWJugXzs
The Expert answers:
Recycling metal is definitely worth the effort.
With respect to paper, you are correct. It takes more energy and produces an inferior product.
Linda asks…
NY Times article says recycling is mostly a waste of money. Should 0bama have his Czar bring up charges?
… against NY Times editor?
This was based upon a study that says it pollutes the environment MORE when we recycle (sending garbage trucks around, etc)
The Expert answers:
I thought you guys said the NY Times was nothing but leftist propaganda??? So obviously you don’t believe this report.
Richard asks…
How long have you been recycling your waste?
And what is your fun story about the first time you ever recycled?
When I was younger, there were always bags around the yard overflowing with our aluminum cans. For one reason or another, even if a recycling center was in easy reach of my parents…they just stopped caring. I’ve even tried to persuade them to start back up…with little or no success.
I started recycling my own waste about 2 1/2 years ago, not long after my city’s first recycling plant was finally built. I snagged one of their promotional bumper stickers, but still procrastinated…but then, I stuck it to my car. Even if I drove around advertising for GPS Recycle Now!, I still kept putting off the task of buying my extra garbage cans for the job.
But I put my sticker on the car to push myself into recycling…I figured that if I reminded myself that I have advertised for something good to do, but wish not to be a hypocrite, I’d better get crackin’. Then, I bought my supplies, started recycling, and I have never stopped. I recycle EVERYTHING, religiously, and that’s the way I like it.
How’d it happen with you?
The Expert answers:
The main thing I recycle is paper and aluminum cans.
For me, it all started out when I was little. My parents recycled all the newspapers we received in the mail and bought in the grocery store. Being so little I didn’t understand the concept of recycling. All I knew was that the bin we had in our garage was where the newspapers, and more importantly my comics, went when we were done with them. Every so often my Dad would take the bin and stow it in the trunk of his car before work, and when he got home that afternoon they were gone.
As I got older, I realized what recycling was. I understood that us putting newspapers in the recycling bin meant that less trees needed to be killed.
Later, when my little town in the middle of nowhere started growing, I realized quickly that they were taking trees from everywhere. Every once and a while we would see trucks drive by our house carrying a bed full of pine trees. Companies would come, buy land, clear cut it, and then leave the land there barren and ugly until they could sell it to another company that would develop it.
Then it happened in my back yard. Literally. My family owned a plot of land that was in a forest. Our whole back yard was full of pine trees. I loved it. I had adventures back there when I was a kid! I built forts and brought my friends back there so we could play house. XD The land was owned by an older woman who later passed away and gave the land to her sons who sold it to a developer. They clear cut what I considered an extension of my backyard. And then instead of shipping the timber off to a company that could use it, they burned all of it.
Anyway, to make a long story short (too late…) my family kept recycling newspapers and such, and I grew up always remembering everything that had happened in my community. In high school I helped maintain our school-wide recycling program. You should have seen how much paper our school would have just thrown away…
Now I’m headed off to college, and I plan to be involved in the school’s environmental clubs also. 🙂
I know my story wasn’t funny… At all… But I still hope you enjoyed reading it!
I liked your story too! Oh the power of that bumper sticker!
Nancy asks…
Why do people recycle?
People waste so much time recycling and I can’t understand why. The only recyclable materials that are actually worth recycling, companies are actually willing to pay you for (aluminium & steel). The rest actually do the opposite of what you’re trying to accomplish through recycling, it takes more energy & creates more pollution (the refining process) and costs an enormous amout of money (taxpayer money) and manpower to refine these products.
The 1st story that I read to address this issue stated that “Recycling may be the most wasteful activity in modern America” printed in the New York Times in 1996. America has no shortage of landfills, and the current landfill regulations are very environmentally friendly and are the most cost effective way of disposing of waste.
There is no shortage of trees available in the US the number of trees in our forest has actually increased in the last 50 years according to Jerry Taylor, director of natural resources at the Cato Institute.
I love some of these answers! Incredibly funny.
With the exception of the aluminium & steel recyclers, has anyone noticed that all of the research that supports recycling is done by or supported by persons or groups who have a financial interest in recycling.
The Expert answers:
We recycle to get the most out of our resources and to maintain a sustainable relationship between economics and stewardship for our environment. Besides deriving the maximum amount of value from a resource, recycling also reduces or prevents emissions to air and water, saves energy and natural resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from landfills.
While it is correct to assert that fossil fuels are used in the remanufacture of recycled items, research indicates that overall emissions are lower from recovered materials than from virgin materials. Recycling aluminum cans, for example, saves 95 percent of the energy needed to extract an equal amount of aluminum from bauxite, its virgin source.
A recent Executive Order directs all federal agencies to purchase copier paper with at least 30 percent recycled content. As a result, up to 500,000 fewer trees will be harvested annually for the production of paper, and the remaining trees will absorb 16,000 tons of carbon in a year. Energy used to produce the copier paper will be reduced by 12 percent, and an average reduction of 14 percent in air emissions and greenhouse gases will be achieved. Finally, a 13 percent reduction will occur in both water pollutants and the amount of solid waste requiring disposal.
Chris asks…
Are we wasting out time trying to recycle and save the planet?
http://www.greatgarbagepatch.org/
I am not by any means an eco-warrior but I try to do my bit as I imagine many other people do too.
I just came across this report and reading it has made me very worried indeed.
Did anyone else know of this??
I have to add that this report says that no one is doing anything about this!! I am horrified to think that this toxic soup undoubtedly will eventually get into the food chain and no one knows what that will result in.
We only have to remember what most of us saw happened to children in Corby when pregnant women were exposed to drinking contaminated water.
It seems to me, as some answerers have already said the answers lie with action coming from governments and corporate bodies to take action now. We as individuals can not solve what happens to our waste, recycled or not.
The Expert answers:
I have come across articles about that part of the Pacific and it’s worrying, along with so much more about how humanity treats the planet. So much makes me despair particularly for the coming generations. Even so I still do my bit where I can even to the point where I’ve been called fanatical, but I’d sooner be thought fanatical than an ostrich with my head buried in the sand denying the problem or just too idle to do what I see as merely acting responsibly.
Ken asks…
Is this a good argument for *not* recycling paper?
I work at a rural public high school. I proposed starting a program to recycle paper, since we waste an egregious amount of it here. (Let me give you an example: Suppose you want to make a copy of a 100-page document and want to print on both sides of the paper. You forgot to change this setting on the copier, so when your copy comes out, you just toss all 100 pages. This happens many, many times a day.) One of my colleagues dismissed the idea as a waste of time, citing the fact that “trees are a renewable resource.” I didn’t have a good rejoinder, but I can’t help but think that her perspective is shallow.
So is this really a good argument? Even if trees really are renewable, aren’t there other good reasons for recycling paper as opposed to just dumping it?
The Expert answers:
Trees are a renewable resource only when harvested SUSTAINABLY. At the rate we chop down trees, we all might as well have a lung removed since there won’t be enough oxygen to go around to fill two of them per person. Trees provide important habitat for all kinds of animals, provide shade and in masses actually helps to cool the planet, provides much needed oxygen where our air is now being pumped full of CO2 and helps to remove some of that CO2 as well as other pollutants from the air. Just because we can replant a tree doesn’t mean that it will grow fast enough to replace the ones we’ve taken in the time we need it. Next time a truly ignorant arguement such as that happens again, arm yourself with information such as below:
Why Recycle Paper?
——————————————————————————–
Statistics
It is possible to achieve significant reductions in the cost of buying office paper by reducing paper use and reusing paper where possible.
Eliminating office from waste may reduce waste bills by as much as 50%.
Making new paper from old paper uses 30% to 55% less energy than making paper from trees and reduces related air pollution by 95%.
Each day American businesses generate enough paper to circle the globe at least 40 times!
77% of paper waste generated in offices is recyclable.
Typical business offices generate about 1.5 pounds of waste paper per employee each day.
Nearly half of typical office paper waste is high grade office paper.
Recycling one ton of paper typically saves about 6.7 cubic yards of landfill space. A cubic yard of stacked office paper weighs about 380 pounds. Cost savings may be estimated by multiplying the tons recycled by 6.7 times the cost per cubic yard for waste disposal (if by volume) of by cost per ton (if by weight).
Commercial and residential paper waste accounts for more than 40% of waste going to the landfill. Eliminating this paper from our waste would nearly double the lives of current landfills.
Newspaper is recycled into newspaper, game boards, egg cartons, gift boxes, animal bedding, insulation, and packaging material.
Office paper is recycled into office paper, tissue paper, paper towels, and toilet paper.
Corrugated cardboard is recycled into new cardboard and cereal boxes.
Resources Saved Per Ton of Paper Recycled:
17 trees
275 pounds of sulphur
350 lbs of limestone
9,000 lbs of steam
60,000 gal of water
225 kilowatt hours
3.3 cubic yards of landfill space
——————————————————————————–
Source: The Public Recycling Officials of Pennsylvania, Developing a Waste Reduction and Recycling Program for Commercial, Industrial and Municipal Establishments, May 1995.
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Your Questions About Recycling
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Filed under Recycling Q & A
Paul asks…
Has recycling increased in the past year?
I’ve noticed that more and more people I know have gotten into a habit of recycling in the past year. Does anybody have the actual statistics on whether and how recycling has increased in the past year? Thanks.
The Expert answers:
Yes
5 interactive areas studied between nations:
Oceanographical pollutants. Up 11 percent to 40%
This is the study of sea wash that is unclaimed, in foods,
plants, fuels, and resourceful minerals. This is recycling of
natural area of sea wash is an unsorted mix of mineral.
Tree fallen pollutants. Up 17% by using more buildings for
storages, work sites, safety storing, protective garage store,
new test materials designing work, and stronger tourist
services. This is the use of pressed scrap wood, fibers,
wood block, and plywood material products. This includes
cheaper throw away science for fast food, and picnic paper.
Re using glass materials is up 10% 60% since 1950 on
a world Red Cross study ruling shared in over 100 nations.
Re using plastic materials is up 30% 60% since 1930 on
a world Red Cross study ruling shared in over 70 nations.
Refining fuels for more by products and lower pollutants
has led a 35% increase in recycled oil for steam fed engines
using new engine tests.
All together many industrial improvements, home maker
actions and team work upgrades.
Sharon asks…
what are the specific effects that recycling has on our environment? pros/cons- cost effective? statistics?
The Expert answers:
Less waste
http://www.enjoygreencar.com/
Maria asks…
Homework help with recycling please?
What are some facts and statistics about recycling?
The Expert answers:
This website has everything you need to know about recycling !
Betty asks…
How much of what I put in the recycling bin is actually being recycled?
What are the statistics?
The Expert answers:
I know that in my area if it’s recyclable and it’s in the bin, it gets recycled.
That stuff about plastic rings around the bottles and things not being clean enough is mostly false. The people at the recycling plant that sort that stuff out are too busy picking out the garbage and hazardous waste (such as weed killer, bug spray, and cleaning agents that aren’t empty) to worry about nitpicky things like that. As for paper, the process is pretty much totally automated by weight, no one pays any attention to if there’s a window on your envelope or not!
If your recycling program is single-stream like mine (you can just put everything in one bin) then they probably have a similar operation. I would tour your local center to check it out- it’s most likely free, a quick email to the company is all that I needed to get in.
You can get statistics from your own company by sending them an email, but in Rochester 99.9% of what goes in that is recyclable goes out.
Lisa asks…
Is there a good website to get some statistics on the outcome of Going Green?
An example would be like if X amount of people would (recycle or begin using the reusable shopping bags) what would be the outcome or the results.. I just need a website with some statistics…
The Expert answers:
Some municipalities of Europe have certain software, which permits participants of the program to evaluate polution produced by them. In fact every replacement of one product with another or choice of dealing with a problem involve many components, which are important for ecology. E.g. Similar products may be produced using different technologies, recycling can be related with different technologies too, different location of recycling factory, fuel used, way of transportation matter too.
Customers use products differently, some reuse such things, which are used only once by others.
Possibly all products will have their eco-codes in future and that will permit households to evauate their impact on ecology, to compare themselves with other people, to influence policy and education based on such information.
Laura asks…
what are the benifits of recycling?
is there any real results or statistics ?
The Expert answers:
1) Resource saving
2) Cost/price reduction
3) Environment protection
4) Job creation
5) Income generation/business creation
6) Tidiness
Ken asks…
What is a good website for statistics?
I am doing a project at school where we have to do 20 things to save the earth, then document them. We also have to include Statistics, ex. if everybody in the U.S. recycled one bottle per day then we would save 200,000 tons of plastic a day. That wasn’t actual, i just made it up.
But I think that you get the point.
Thanks for helping!!
The Expert answers:
You ask the question: What is a good website for statistics? And then you go on, ad nauseam, about what you need it for. Who cares? You really shouldn’t bore people with the particulars because it is the question, and only the question that counts! Especially when you bore people with made up statistics. It’s like McGrubber said once: “I’ve got time.” So true. He had 20 seconds. And don’t make up random statistics unless you really mean it.
But you do pose a good question. Statistics websites should directly address the statistics you are looking for. For example, if I were looking for plastic recycling statistics I wouldn’t look for a website titled “Just Plastics” unless it also said “Just Plastics Statistics”. “Recycled Plastics Statistics” would be even better. See, it’s all in how you word your website title. I would recommend www.statistics.com because that would be the best remembered site for statistics that I can think of. Everybody knows that most websites start with the “www” and everybody knows about the dot com part too. So putting the word “statistics” in there would be the most logical thing to do for a website about statistics. Unless, like discussed before, you wanted the website to deal with specific statistics and not just every day statistics. Then you could call the website “www.statisticsofwhatever.com” and the whatever would be whatever you are making the web page be specifically about. I can’t really help you on the specifics unless I know specifically what kind of statistics you will want this website for.
You’re welcome for helping.
Mandy asks…
website links for recycling…?
i need links for recycling specialists, statistics for recycling in california, is recycling sanitary, and how landfills affect the environment. this is for a school project if you know of and sources tht cud help plz tell me
The Expert answers:
Earth911.com
1800reycycle.com
George asks…
average person making a change by recycling?
I’m trying to figure out an experiment for data analysis and I was wondering if anyone knew any sources that could give me data or statistics on how much the average person recycles, how big of a difference it makes, etc.
The Expert answers:
Here is a link to some recycling information
http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/United_States_Recycling_Statistics
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