Scrap recycling is one of the least popular in the United States even though most metals can be recycled and there are even some that have a high market value. The recycling of scrap metal is very important since by reusing metals we mitigate the exploitation of minerals, which are a limited resource, and their extraction generates a significant amount of greenhouse gasses.

Most of the waste can be left in the local recycling centers and received payment for it, in this way we avoid this waste ends up in landfills, where it would take hundreds of years to degrade.

Some of the metals that can be sold at recycling centers are copper (which is the best-valued metal on the market), aluminum, brass, lead, iron, and bronze. You can find these materials in all kinds of household waste such as; wires, pipes, kitchen sinks, food cans, soda cans, window frames, door locks, chandeliers and hinges, old jewelry, children’s toys, lamps, and tools.

Although almost most of the metals are recycled, some cannot be reused or that recycling centers do not receive, such as those used for paint or toxic products, some pipes, clothes hangers, and metal scraps, so it’s always best to check directly with your local recycling center.

Paper is one of the easiest materials to recycle, however, for this to happen, it must be treated correctly from the beginning of the recycling chain, that is, from the consumer. The most important thing when it comes to recycling paper is that it does not contain polluting agents, since any type of food, oil, or some other residue makes it unrecyclable and can contaminate the entire batch.

Paper that is not recycled ends up in landfills and although it degrades rapidly compared to other materials since it is not reused, it increases the exploitation of forests and trees in the manufacture of the new paper.

As for cardboard boxes or cardboard in general, which is made up of several layers of paper, it is best to give it a second use whenever possible. On the other hand, failing that, keep them clean and break them so that they can be properly treated in the local recycling centers.

Not all the containers we consume are recyclable, even those that may seem so, that is why sometimes the local recycling center does not accept all the waste we carry. For example, while plastic bottles are the most widely recycled plastic products, not all bottles are made from the same plastic and their acceptance varies depending on the capabilities of each local recycling center.

In addition, the recycling services can reject your waste for recycling because it is dirty or contaminated since this means that it can no longer be recycled. Another reason facilities may reject materials is because of their shape, since some objects can damage the machinery, such as hooks. Other items that you cannot deposit in the recycling centers are:

• Syringes
• Bowling balls
• Aerosol cans that are not empty
• Plastic bags
• Batteries
• Diapers
• Electronics
• Ceramics

To make sure we’re diverting as much waste from landfills as possible, it’s important to be aware of all the products that can be sent to your local recycling centers. There are many products that, if you separate them correctly, you can send directly to your local curbside recycling program.

Even so, as this varies depending on the capacities and facilities of the collection centers, it is always better to ask directly at your local collection center.

The products that can generally be deposited in recycling centers are:

• Paper, newspapers, magazines, and mixed papers (As long as they are clean)
• Bottles of plastic (almost all types)
• Glass jars and bottles
• Rigid plastic objects
• Cans, aluminum, steel, and metal containers

The fashion industry has become the second most polluting in the world, only behind the big oil companies. The environmental impact of the textile industry extends throughout its “commercial ecosystem”: from production, distribution, and exhibition to acquisition, care, and washing processes and, finally, its disposal. In the United States, more than 12 million tons of clothing are dumped in landfills annually.

Clothing and textiles are 100% recyclable, but only 15% are recycled in the United States. To recycle clothing, it is best to first consider whether it can have a second life and if so, give it away, donate it or take it to a second-hand store, always clean and dry to prevent the spread of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

When it comes to clothes that are already in very poor condition or pieces of fabric that can no longer be reused, it is best to take them to a collection point that accepts this type of waste. At recycling centers for textiles, clothing is turned into fiber and used to make new products, such as padding, rubber-coated playgrounds, and some materials for the automotive industry.