What Is Recycling?

Recycling simply means "to take something old or used and make something new."

Recycling with ILACSDBut, recycling actually has 3 different phases:

  1. Recyclable materials (cans, plastics, glass and paper) are separated from trash and other waste.
  2. These materials are broken down and reused as raw material to produce new products.
  3. The recycling process is completed when the new products are put to use. This process is the "Recycling Cycle" or "Closing the Loop."

 

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:
Recyclable Paper Products Paper products
  • copy paper
  • computer paper
  • writing paper
  • paper towels
  • tissues
 Outdoor Recycled Products Outdoor products
  • soaker hoses
  • garden edging boards
  • benches
  • tables
  • plastic lumber decking
   
Recycable Home & Office Supplies Home and office supplies
  • file folders
  • notepads
  • binders
  • paper clips
  • computer discs
  • remanufactured ink and toner cartridges