Our Trash is Recyclable

By: Pedro Quintana

When we drink a can of soda, or finish reading the newspaper, we tend to throw them away into the trash. We do not think anything of it; we just go on with our daily lives. But did you know that some of our trash is recyclable and can be re-used in another cycle for many years? If we recycle, we can cut some of the trash going into the waste sites. Recycling is really easy to do. Fresno residents have been recycling for many years now, and each resident has a blue bin. The blue bin is used to place all recyclables So what happens to the recycling? Well, the paper, plastic, glass and cans are all recycled to be reused in the future.

Empty glass bottles and jars can be recycled to make things like decorative paving and aggregate for asphalt or swimming pool filters, as well as new glass jars and bottles. Some glass can not be recycled such as mirror glass and crystal due to the high lead content in the glass.

Paper is very important to recycle. Corrugated paper and corrugated boxes can be used to make new paperboard. Newspapers can be recycled into paperboard, new newsprint, insulation and also animal bedding products. Office paper can be recycled into writing paper, tissue and paper towel products. Telephone books can be recycled into egg cartons and wine boxes. You can also donate your old newspaper to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and pet shops for their pets.

Aluminum cans are a great way to make extra cash when you recycle them. You get cash for bringing in your aluminum cans. When you recycle your cans at a local recycling station, do you ever wonder were does all those cans go? Well, the empty aluminum drink cans are sent overseas for recycling. They are sorted, crushed and baled into “bricks” for transporting. These bricks are fed into a hot furnace where the aluminum melts and is casted into smaller ingots which are processed into new aluminum cans. Steel cans that have contained anything from baked beans to fruit cocktails, pet food or soup can be recycled to make new cars and bridges.

Plastic is also great to recycle. A styrofoam vending cup can be made into a pencil or a pen. Plastic bags and containers can be recycled into garden furniture, decking and fencing. Milk bottles can be recycled into buckets, composting bins or the recycling bins many of the residents of Fresno use for the curb side recycling.

If you have an old computer that works and you just got a new one, donate it to a local charity group. If the computer does not work you can recycle your computers at a local recycling center. If you have clothing and need to get rid of it donate it to local charities. People can always reuse clothing and it is a great way to help the community.

To help the environment you can re-use some of the trash that you throw away. You can re-use washed zip lock bags for sandwiches and snacks rather than using plastic wrap. You can also donate your old magazines to doctors and dentists offices, motels, and friends.

Recycling also involves shopping; you can reduce the plastic bags that you bring home by carrying a cotton bag that can be placed into your handbag. You can put a cardboard box or a laundry basket in the back of your car, so that groceries. Can be loaded straight from the shopping basket into the box/basket, eliminating the need for plastic bags. When you are buying any household items, buy rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones. Buy the 2-in-1 shampoo as, it is a great way to use only one container instead of two. You also save money and do not pollute as much(half the amount of soap down the drain).

So when you are doing your spring cleaning, take a moment and think of what you are throwing away and if it can be recycled. It is very important for every person on earth to contribute to help make the place were we live a much better and cleaner.