What do we recycle

According to the EPA, in the U. In California, we manage to keep 44 percent of our trash out of the landfill. We want to hang onto as much of it as we can for future use. Extracting raw materials from the environment is expensive. It also uses up a lot of water and energy. When we recycle, we extract less, which conserves many of our precious and finite! Tire piles can also catch on fire. Most garages are required to accept and recycle your used tires when you have new ones installed.

You may be able to return used tires to either a tire retailer or a local recycling facility that accepts tires. Some communities will hold collection events for used tires. Disclaimer : These sites are listed for informational purposes only.

EPA does not endorse any of these entities nor their services. Contact Us to suggest any additional links. Take your plastic bags back to a grocery store collection bin. NEVER put them in your curbside recycling bin. Check out more information on plastic bags here. Skip to main content. Related Topics: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Contact Us. Gift Wrap and Gift Bags If you use gift wrap, look to find a type that can be recycled or that is made from recycled content.

Batteries One of the most recycled products are lead-acid batteries, with 2. Dry-Cell Batteries are used in a variety of electronics and include alkaline and carbon zinc 9-volt, D, C, AA, AAA , mercuric-oxide button, some cylindrical and rectangular , and silver-oxide and zinc-air button. Look for in-store recycling bins or community collection events to dispose of these batteries.

Lithium-ion Batteries are used in many rechargeable products such as electronics, toys, wireless headphones, handheld power tools, small and large appliances, electric vehicles, and electrical energy storage systems. Do not put them in the trash or municipal recycling bins. Household lithium-ion batteries can be brought to dedicated in-store recycling bins or household hazardous waste collection events for disposal.

Buy recycled paper and print on both sides. When using paper in the office, print on both sides of the sheet and recycle the paper when you are finished. By recycling one ton of paper, you can save 17 trees, almost 7, gallons of water and more than three cubic yards of landfill space. Recycle your outdated technology. According to EPA, Americans throw out two million tons of e-waste each year. Avoid adding to that waste by recycling your old technology.

As recycling saves energy it also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which helps to tackle climate change. When we recycle, recyclable materials are reprocessed into new products, and as a result the amount of rubbish sent to landfill sites decreases which reduces emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.