Recycle

Plastic
Why are some plastics recyclable while others are not?  There are actually a whole range of different materials that we lump together under the term “plastic.”  They are designed to be different to meet the different uses we have for them.  Some must be strong, some flexible, some able to insulate, etc.  To accomplish this, the molecules that make up the plastic have differences as well, and if all the plastic materials we use were combined during recycling, the resulting substance would not be suitable for any use.

In order to reclaim the most material possible, plastic items are coded on the bottom with a symbol and a number to help us identify which plastics can be recycled together. Call your hauler to see which types they will accept.

For more information about the numbers in the chasing arrows click here: www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/recycling-symbols-plastics-460321?click+main_sr. 
 
Paper
Some paper items need to be separated as well.  Requirements will vary among haulers or drop off centers depending on the ability of the companies that accept recyclables to refine them.
Paper used in phonebooks and newspapers is very light weight and is made up of very short fibers.  Some recyclers will want this separated from higher quality paper so as not to “contaminate” the end product.
For a similar reason wax coated papers such as milk containers, juice boxes, and boxes from frozen foods may not be suitable for recycling.  Paper or cardboard with food residue, such as pizza boxes, should be placed in the garbage and not recycled.

Because requirements can vary, contact your hauler to be sure you know which items can be picked up or dropped off where you live.

Glass
Glass is produced in 4 common colors: colorless or “clear,” brown, green, and blue.  Most companies will accept all colors without requiring any separation.

Composting

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), yard trimmings and food residuals make up 24% of all the solid waste we create, and composting this material would mean that much less space is needed for landfills.  Composting is a natural process that returns valuable organic material to the soil to replenish nutrients needed for plant growth.  Click on the links below for information on home composting options.
http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/composting
www.epa.gov/compost

Household Hazardous Waste

Household hazardous waste is a term used to describe items or substances, used by individuals, which should not be disposed of with regular garbage when their useful life is over.  Some of the items contain toxic substances that need to be kept from leaching into the water supply, and some contain components that can be salvaged and reused. 

Listed below are things that can be brought to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day programs offered by the Putnam County Department of Health.  For dates and locations call (845) 278-6130.

Commercial users can contact the DEC Clean Sweep NY program by calling (877) 793-3769 or clicking on www.cleansweepny.org to find appropriate ways to dispose of pesticides, mercury-containing devices, and certain other materials safely.

Electronic Items

It’s important to dispose of used electronic devices in special collections.  Electronic items contain components that can be separated into recyclable parts like plastics and metals, and reusing these pieces will reduce the volume of material that ends up in a landfill.

ACCEPTABLE MATERIALS FOR
E-WASTE CONTAINERS

Air conditioners
Answering machines
Cables and wiring
Cell phones
Copiers (desk models)
Fax machines
Hard drives
Laptops
Modems
Pagers
Personal computers
Printers
Printed circuit boards
Remote controls
Scanners
Servers
Small appliances
Stereos
Tape players
Televisions
Testing equipment
Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) systems
VCRs

Even better than recycling is reusing, and many agencies gladly accept used cell phones.  Check with your favorite charity, or try:

Women’s Resource Center  (845) 628-9284
www.americancellphonedrive.org
www.shelteralliance.net

Compact fluorescent light bulbs

The newer energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs (or CFL bulbs) should be recycled with regular fluorescent lights as hazardous waste.  These bulbs contain a very tiny amount of mercury, and should be kept out of landfills.  Use of these bulbs actually decreases the amount of mercury released when compared to the older standard bulbs, because of the mercury released into the atmosphere due to the greater amount of electricity used to power the older type.