According to the EPA, the overall recycling rate is 32.1 percent.
According to a recent survey by Greenpeace, 87 percent of Americans have access to easy recycling for #1 and #2 plastics.
Glass, metal, paper, and #1 and #2 plastics are commonly accepted for curbside recycling.
Food can contaminate recyclable materials—make sure what you recycle is clean. Batteries require special recycling—ask your local government. And plastic bags can gum up machines, so look for a special recycling center at your grocery store.
Juice cartons, or boxes, are a combination of plastic and/or metal lining, and paper. This makes cartons harder to recycling than plastic, glass, and aluminum.
Yep—a long time.
While some plastics are called “single-use,” they can actually have multiple lives.
Recycling saves!
According to the EPA, 23 percent of all solid waste is paper, followed by food at 21 percent. Plastic and yard trimmings each make up 12 percent.
Small choices can have big effects!
Quiz by Recycling Facts