Recycle

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So You Want to Know About Recycling…

Click on a link below to learn more: What is universal waste (u-waste) and what are the new regulations? What is recycling? Why is recycling important? How does recycling effect you? What can you recycle? Where can you recycle? Recycling Brochures Buy Recycled! Mulch/Compost Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Still have questions? Call the Recycling Hotline for more information. What is recycling? The simplest definition of recycling is "to take something old or used and make something new," but recycling actually has three different phases. First, recyclable materials (cans, plastics, glass and paper) are separated from trash and other waste. Second, these materials are broken down and reused as raw material to produce new products. Third, the recycling process is completed when the new products are put to use. This process is the "Recycling Cycle" or "Closing the Loop." Why is recycling important? An average person throws out almost 4 pounds of waste a day. Over the course of a year, that's almost a ton of garbage per person. For many of us, recycling has become a part of our daily (or at least weekly) lives. We know that recycling helps conserve natural resources, and most San Diegan's know that recycling conserves space in our landfills. But, did you know that recycling also conserves energy and water and helps to reduce air and water pollution? For example, production of recycled paper uses 80 percent less water, 65 percent less energy and produces 95 percent less air pollution than virgin paper production. If every American recycled their newspaper just one day a week, we would save about 36 million trees a year. You can save a tree for roughly every four-foot stack of paper you recycle. Click on one of the following to find out more… Recycling Saves Energy Recycling Reduces Air & Water Pollution Recycling Saves Natural Resources Recycling Saves Space in Landfills How does recycling effect you? State law required all California cities and counties to cut the amount of waste going to their landfills in half, by the year 2000. We are improving, but this is an ongoing effort! Recycling effects you for the same reasons that recycling is important. By saving landfill space, energy and natural resources we protect our remaining open spaces and natural resources for ourselves and for future generations. The environment isn't the only thing benefiting from recycling. Diverting garbage from landfills also gives the California economy a hefty boost, according to a report by a University of California, Berkeley, Economist George Goldman. His 2001 analysis of data from government and private industry reveals that diverting trash in California created twice as much personal income and generated twice as many jobs as dumping it into landfills. Recycling Brochures Call the Recycling Hotline for a copy of a brochure listed below, or click on the title to download a copy. County of San Diego Residential Guide to Recycling and Reuse County of San Diego Automotive Recycling Guide County of San Diego Construction and Demolition Recycling Guide County of San Diego Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Guide County of San Diego Junk Mail Reduction Kit County of San Diego Apartment and Condominium Recycling Guide Moving? Put Toxic Waste in its Place Less Toxic Yard & Garden Care* Put Toxic Waste in its Place! A Guide for Household Hazardous Waste Reduction & Disposal in San Diego County *This brochure is only available in English. All others are available in both English and Spanish. Chula Vista  Chula Vista motor oil recycling and free oil containers Buy Recycled! Once we have recycled our used materials, we need to close the recycling loop by purchasing products made from recycled materials. Check the labels of the products you buy to find out their recycled content. Recycled content is the portion of a product that contains materials that were recycled either during the manufacturing process or after consumer use. The higher the percentage of post-consumer recycled content in a product the better. Recycled content products are comparable, and in some cases superior, in quality, price and durability to virgin material products. If you can’t find recycled content products in a store, ask the manager or owner to carry them. Check for recycled content in the following: Paper products, such as computer paper, writing paper, art paper, paper towels and tissues Home and office supplies, such as file folders, notepads, binders, paper clips, computer discs and remanufactured ink/toner cartridges Outdoor products, such as soaker hoses, garden edging boards, benches, tables and plastic lumber decking Mulch/Compost To increase your recycling and reuse options consider using yard waste as mulch and starting your own composting. Free mulch is available at the Miramar Landfill At the City of San Diego's Miramar Landfill Greenery Area, leaves, trees and other yard trimmings are recycled by grinding them into mulch. Pick up free mulch for your garden at the Miramar Landfill located at the northernmost end of Convoy Street, just behind Highway 52. Please bring a shovel and containers. You might also need a tarp to cover the mulch as you drive to your home or business. City of San Diego residents can bring your own clean yard trimmings into the Greenery Area for recycling at no cost. Wood chips and compost are also available for a price. For more information about obtaining free mulch, call (858) 573-1420. You can also compost yard and food waste at home. Call the Recycling Hotline for a brochure or for more information. top

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