What Can And Can’t Be Recycled?

Can staples be recycled? That was the question that initially prompted me to start researching what common things can and can’t be recycled. Sometimes it’s hard to know what will and won’t be accepted in your recycling bin. It varies, of course, depending on your area, but there are some commonalities we can find.

 

Yes- these things can usually be recycled:

Staples

Construction paper

Bottle caps

Scotch tape (small amounts)

Plastics # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (may vary)

Clean aluminum containers (may vary)

No- these things usually can’t be recycled:

Paper with glue on it

Paper with paint on it

Photographs

Stickers

Styrofoam

Tissue paper

Waxed paper

Thermal receipt paper

Compostable plastic

Here is a google doc with the printable cheat sheet that you can refer back to or post near your recycling bin.

It varies whether aluminum foil and containers can be recycled. The aluminum must be completely clean of food waste since food can gum up recycling equipment.

For me, it’s good to know that I should tear areas with stickers off, but I don’t need to worry about tearing the corner of a stapled page off of a paper.

Let’s heal the earth, one small action at a time. Are there any other materials you’d add to the list as to whether they can or can’t be recycled?

~ Carrie

Here are some Earth Day resources available in my TPT store:

 

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