In the world of recycling, soda cans and newspapers are a given, but so much more can be recycled.
Curbside Recycling
Starting July 1st, 2011, the City of San Diego’s Recycling Ordinance now requires certain materials to be recycled.
Various plastics are now accepted in curbside recycling bins including:
- Food plastics:
clear clamshell plastic, drink cups, deli trays, and berry baskets
- Non-food plastics:
plant pots and garden trays
- Rigid Plastics
buckets, toys, and non-hazardous household product containers like detergent or pet litter
- Large items
plastic crates, totes, laundry baskets, pallets, and even lawn furniture.
Don’t forget that aerosol cans, phone books, shredded paper (bagged), gift wrapping paper, and clean aluminum foil can be recycled in your curbside bin. Bottle caps and jar lids are also recyclable and should be put back on containers when recycled.
Drop-off Recycling
Things like plastic bags, styrofoam, and batteries are all recyclable, but not in your curbside bin. Often times large grocery stores accept plastic grocery bags for recycling, but they must be clean and dry. Styrofoam packing can be donated to mail houses such as UPS and Fedex. Batteries are banned from landfill disposal and must be taken to an appropriate facility. Ikea accepts alkaline batteries and fluorescent light bulbs for recycling.
Damaged CDs can be recycled by AuralTech in Washington. Check out their website for more information:
http://www.auraltech.com/cdfaq.htm#8
Your old sneakers and eyeglasses are recyclable too! Nike Reuse-A-Shoe turns worn athletic shoes and turns them into tennis courts, track fields, and new shoes and apparel. Just drop them off to any Nike Reuse-A-Shoe recycling location so they can be ground up and used again. Check out their website for more info:
http://www.nikereuseashoe.com/where-it-goes
Do you have old or broken eye glasses? Donate them to Lions Optometric Vision Clinic so they can be reused and recycled and distributed to those in need of better eyesight.
http://www.sandiegolions.org/resources.htm
Send your old bike tubes to SPLAFF, a local San Diego business that makes sandals, bags, and other accessories out of used bicycle tubes.
SPLAFF
http://sites.google.com/site/splaffretailsite/
4950 Del Mar Ave.
San Diego, CA 92107
Almost everything can be recycled or reused in some way, so always think before you throw something away!
Check out www.earth911.com for recycling locations for various materials.
