Many materials can be recycled, besides the usual aluminum cans and papers. Most recycling centers accept glass, but you may have to separate the clear, green, and brown colors. According to Earth Day 1990, recycling a single glass jar can save enough energy to run a 100 watt light bulb for 4 hours!
Many recycling centers also accept certain types of plastic bottles and jugs. Some of these plastics are reincarnated as insulation for ski parkas and sleeping bags. Check with your local center to see what kinds of plastics are recyclable.
Tin (actually tin-plated steel) cans are often accepted. The Environmental Defense Fund reports that each year Americans throw away enough steel and iron to supply Detroit's big three automakers with all their steel.
Cardboard can often be recycled, if it is flattened and stored in sheets.
Recycle ALL your waste aluminum. While your local grocery store or recycling center may only accept beverage cans, check around for an aluminum recycle center that will take foil, cake pans, TV dinner trays, even old storm window frames and lawn chairs! Reynolds Aluminum Co. operates many such centers.
Find a home for your used motor oil. Don't dump it in the soil where it pollutes the groundwater. Ask at service stations, garages, or oil distributors where you can recycle oil.
If you work in an office, try to get the whole office into the habit of recycling paper and computer printouts. ***
