What type of recycler are you?!

1) How do you collect your recycling?

a:  In a plastic bag (Recycling Amateur)

b:  Loose in my bin (Recycling Student)

c:  Cleaned and the loose in my bin (Recycling Aficionado)

d:  Confirm accepted then clean and loose in my bin (Recycling Wizard)

Recycling Tip: Don't collect recycling in plastic bags...they clog the machines at the sorting facilities!

 

2) What is the best way to keep organic waste out of the landfill?

a:  Composting (Recycling Amateur)

b:  Feeding Animals (Recycling Student)

c:  Reducing Food Waste (Recycling Wizard)

d:  Donating Food (Recycling Aficionado)

Food Waste Tip:  With so much food thrown away, it's best to try to reduce it first and then follow the food waste hierarchy. Learn more about different composting methods here.

 

3) How do you recycle a glass bottle?

a:  Check to make sure you can recycle it in your area (Recycling Wizard)

b:  Clean the bottle and make sure it's empty and dry (Recycling Aficionado)

c:  Place the bottle directly in the bin before you forget about it (Recycling Student)

d:  Smash the bottle into the bin (because it's fun)! (Recycling Amateur)

Glass Recycling Tip:  While glass is infinitely recyclable, there just isn't enough glass recycled to make it cost effective in many recycling markets, so first check to make sure glass is accepted for recycling.

 

4) Which of the following is the easiest to recycle?

a:  Aluminum Cans (Recycling Wizard)

b:  Plastic Bags (Recycling Amateur)

c:  Glass (Recycling Student)

d:  Paper (Recycling Aficionado)

Recycling Tip:  While all of these items can be recycled, plastic bags can only be recycled by themselves; glass is only accepted in certain areas; and paper is often accepted but if too wet can be a contaminate.

 

5) What do you do with a paper cup?

a:  I throw it in the trash (Recycling Aficionado)

b:  I compost it (Recycling Student)

c:  I recycle it (Recycling Amateur)

d:  Use a reusable cup instead (Recycling Wizard)

Paper Cup Recycling Tip:  Paper food products like paper cups, plates, and napkins cannot be recycled. While made of paper, they are not of good enough quality to recycle. Some can be composted, but the safest option is to dispose of them in the trash. For that reason, they should be avoided by using reusable dinnerware.

 

6) What do you do with pizza boxes?

a:  Throw it out (Recycling Amateur)

b:  Compost it (Recycling Aficionado)

c:  Recycle it (Recycling Student)

d:  Recycle the clean parts and compost the rest (Recycling Wizard)

Pizza Box Recycling Tip:  A cardboard pizza box can be recycled if clean and not covered in grease. Otherwise, it can be composted.

 

7) How should biodegradable plastic containers be disposed?

a:  Trash bin (Recycling Wizard)

b:  Compost bin (Recycling Student)

c:  Recycling bin (Recycling Aficionado)

d:  Thrown outside (Recycling Amateur)

Biodegradable Plastic Tip:  While 'plastic', biodegradable plastic is often not accepted for single-stream recycling. It also can be rejected at composting facilities! So, it is safest to throw it out or use compostable, recyclable, or reusable products instead.

 

8) What should you do with Styrofoam?

a:  Put it in your recycling bin (Recycling Amateur)

b:  Avoid it at all costs (Recycling Wizard)

c:  Take it to a local recycling center (Recycling Aficionado)

d:  Throw it away (Recycling Student)

Styrofoam Recycling Tip:  Styrofoam can be recycled at certain recycling centers but not in single-stream recycling. In general, it should be avoided.

 

9) At what size do items become hard to recycle?

a:  Credit card (Recycling Wizard)

b:  Bottle cap (Recycling Amateur)

c:  Piece of paper (Recycling Student)

d:  Penny (Recycling Aficionado)

Recycling Tip:  The smaller the item, the harder it is to sort and ultimately recycle.

 

10) What type of recyclable waste accounts for 70% of the toxic heavy metals in landfills?

a:  Plastic bags (Recycling Student)

b:  Metal cans (Recycling Amateur)

c:  Electronic waste (Recycling Wizard)

d:  Glass bottles (Recycling Aficionado)

E-waste Recycling Tip:  Do not throw electronics into your trash container. Find a local recycling center that accepts electronics for recycling.