Consider purchasing products made of materials that are collected for recycling locally. Iin many communities, this includes glass, aluminum, steel, paper, cardboard, and certain plastics. Check with appropriate community officials, volunteer groups, or recycling businesses to determine what materials are collected for recycling.
Also, participate in community recycling drives, curbside programs, and drop-off collections. Call community officials, the local recycling center, or a nearby recycling business to find out if and how materials should be separated. For example, some communities require that glossy paper be segregated from newspaper, and that different types of cans be separated. A magnet can be used to distinguish steel cans from aluminum cans (a magnet does not stick to aluminum). Investigate curbside pickup schedules, determine what materials are accepted, locate drop-off sites, and find out when these sites are open.
If a recycling program does not exist in your community, participate in establishing one. Call local salvage operators to see if they will accept or pick up materials for recycling. Work with community officials to determine the most cost-effective recycling options for your area.
Take used car batteries, antifreeze, and motor oil to participating automobile service centers and other places that collect these items for recycling.
As more businesses and organizations provide collection opportunities, take advantage of them. For example, many grocery stores collect plastic bags for recycling.
