Via Earth911.com

Even for the greenest recycling junkie, to-go plastics are sometimes unavoidable. From microwave dinners to Chinese takeout, single-use plastics are everywhere.

The trick is knowing what to do with that ketchup-covered foam clamshell once you’ve devoured your fries. Here’s your guide to recycling your common to-go plastics.

Expanded Polystyrene Foam

Coffee cups, to-go boxes, foam packaging peanuts, foam crates

Polystyrene foam is widely used because it’s lightweight, easy to ship and works well with both hot and cold food and beverages.

Made from plastic #6, polystyrene foam is comprised of 97 percent air. It is easily carried by wind and water currents to all reaches of our planet, and its unsinkable nature makes it a main component of marine debris.

The main reason curbside programs do not accept polystyrene foam is because after the material is placed in a commingled bin, scooped up on a recycling truck and transported to a facility, it becomes contaminated with dirt and other materials. Because most curbside programs do not wash the material, recyclers have a hard time with it.

There are several community programs that will recycle the material. But if there are no programs that fit your specific needs or are near your location, AFPR offers a mail-in program for consumers. Average shipping fees range from $1.50 to $9, based on the total packaging weight and volume. Since EPS is extremely lightweight, it can be economically shipped to a regional location.

Find local recycling for expanded polystyrene

Plastic #5 Containers

Microwave trays, yogurt cups, hummus tubs, cottage cheese containers

Up until recently, most community curbside recycling programs didn’t accept #5 plastics. And while 28 of the 100 largest U.S. cities now collect plastic containers beyond bottles, many areas still do not.

Because #5 has a similar type resin to that of #2 (which is found in soda and water bottles), many reclaimers are starting to find ways to incorporate it into other products. Garbage and recycling bins, water filtration systems, shipping pallets, sheeting and automotive battery casings are just a few of the products that can be made out of recycled polypropylene.

If your community doesn’t have curbside #5 recycling, check out the Preserve Gimme 5 program.

You can either drop your #5 plastic containers off at designated Whole Foods locations or mail them directly to Preserve, where they will be remade into items such as razors, toothbrushes, cutlery and mixing bowls—all of which are fully recyclable.

Find local recycling for plastic #5

Bottle Caps

Just by physical touch, you can tell the texture and durability of most plastic bottles is different from their caps. This is because bottles and caps are made from different types of plastics.

Plastic #1 PET, often comprises plastic bottles, while plastic #5 PP makes up the caps. So, what’s the big deal if the bottle is a #1 and the cap is a #5? They’re both plastic right?

It all comes down to the melting point, which has a difference of nearly 160 degrees Fahrenheit between the two. If a cap gets mixed in with bottles, the entire batch may be ruined because there is un-melted plastic in the mix.

To check if your city accepts caps for recycling call or visit the Public Works or Department of Sanitation section of its website. You can also search Earth911.com for plastic #5 or plastic bottle cap recycling locations.

If you’re still short on options, Aveda now accepts #5 plastic bottle caps for recycling at its stores and salons. Any Aveda network salon or store will accept the caps to be made into new Aveda caps.

Find local recycling for bottle caps

Disposable Dinnerware

Plastic dishes, cups and cutlery

The average American office worker goes through around 500 disposable cups over the course of 12 months. Americans even toss out enough paper and plastic cups, forks and spoons every year to circle the equator 300 times.

Much of the common disposable dinnerware, such as plastic utensils, cups and plates, is made from plastic #6. It’s the same resin used to make polystyrene foam, but because these materials are not extremely lightweight, they are easier to recycle.

Find local recycling for plastic #6

Plastic Bags

Due to their light weight, most curbside programs do not accept plastic bags. They can easily get stuck inside machinery when recycled as well. Most grocery stores throughout the U.S. now offer plastic bag recycling. The trick is actually remembering to take those excess bags with you next time you go to the store.

Although many consumers reuse plastic bags in their homes for daily tasks such as doggy duty or taking out the trash in the bathroom, recycling your plastic bag will ensure that it won’t eventually end up in the landfill.

Find local recycling for plastic bags

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Ditch Your Disposables

Total U.S. industry consumption of recovered paper in May was 2.6 million tons, a 7.1% increase from a year ago and a 1.3% increase from the previous month, according to the American Forest & Paper Association.

For the first five months of this year, compared to last year, consumption was up 8.5%, the trade group said.

Consumption in May, compared to a year ago, increased 11.7% for corrugated, 5.8% for mixed paper and 5.2% for newspaper.

Meanwhile, U.S. exports of recovered paper increased to 1.8 million tons in April, a 7.7% jump from April 2009.

April imports of recovered paper to the United States decreased by 2,161 tons to 63,712 tons, AF&PA said. That´s a 207% increase from April 2009, but a 3.3% decrease from the previous month.

Via http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/

By now you’ve probably seen at least one study ranking America’s “greenest cities.” It could be based on recycling rates, the number of green buildings or even engagement from local residents.

From San Francisco to Charlotte, these cities typically have one thing in common: a strong emphasis on environmental investment and communicating these programs to the public. Here are the key attributes that make up the nation’s most eco-friendly cities.

1. Acing waste managementWhen it comes to handling waste, recycling is just the tip of the iceberg. Many cities now have separate staff and programs for curbside recycling, compost/yard waste recycling and the collection of hazardous products like paint and batteries. But some will go the extra step.

Did you know in San Francisco, you can recycle food scraps and other organic waste at the curb? In fact, participation is required by city law. Other cities like Chicago and Seattle are beginning to follow suit, and since the EPA estimates organic and yard waste makes up 25 percent of our total solid waste, there’s definitely a demand for other disposal methods.

For other cities, the way to reduce waste is to simply make it illegal to throw things away. Take the case of Charlotte for example. The largest city in North Carolina enforces 15 different state landfill bans.

This includes everything from beverage containers to motor oil and filters to electronics, and did we mention oyster shells? If something is banned from landfills, you can bet that the city and county will do everything they can to make sure that material is recyclable.

An additional option is to change the way that recyclables are prepared for better collection practices. Earlier this year, Minnesota passed a law that all yard waste must be contained in compostable bags.

This means the bags themselves can be added to the compost process and break down. While Minneapolis has until 2013 to comply with the law, its Twin Cities-neighbor St. Paul already enforces it for any yard waste collection.

Read MoreSolar Powered Trash Cans Save Cities Millions

2. Efficient public transportationIn case you didn’t already know, cars have a high environmental footprint. We’re talking carbon emissions, air pollution and non-renewable energy being pumped at the gas station.

Meanwhile, public transportation helps keep cars off the road, and many times these buses and trains are powered by renewable energy. Some are so recognized that we know them by name (e.g. BART and the L train), but other cities are doing their part to promote riding the rails.

Honolulu's TheBus system has also been awarded America's Best Transit System twice by the American Public Transportation Association. Photo: Flickr/duluoz catsIn Orlando, the Lymmo bus line offers transportation all over downtown…for free. It runs every day from City Hall to the Centroplex with 11 spots in between, serving both commuters and those who want to enjoy downtown nightlife.

Another way to measure public transportation effectiveness is how often it is utilized. According to 2005 figures from the Federal Transit Administration, New York is by far the leader with 9.6 percent public use.

As for the city came in at No. 3?

That would be Honolulu, which despite still relying on only a bus system has 3.7 percent public use. Its TheBus system has also been awarded America’s Best Transit System twice by the American Public Transportation Association.

According to the most recent State of the Union, public transportation is no longer just an inner-city phenomenon. The U.S. is spending $8 billion to improve high-speed trains in 31 states and three Canadian cities, and more than 25 percent of that money will go to California.

So, those looking to travel between the three largest metro areas of the Golden State (San Francisco Bay, Los Angeles and San Diego) can do so at up to 220 miles per hour. It should also reduce airline and highway travel, and trains have the lowest carbon footprint of all transportation for long trips.

Read MoreTelecommuting Two Days a Week Could Save Billions

3. Green-collar job availabilityOne indirect way to green up a city is to increase the availability of green-collar jobs, with many focusing on energy efficiency that can be applied locally. Plus, an eco-minded company is more likely to enforce eco-friendly policies, such as promoting conservation.

So, where are the green jobs located? In Mother Nature Network’s recently released top 10, three were in California, but a handful of those listed may come as a surprise.

This includes Detroit, where the electric car is transforming the auto industry and clean energy jobs are abundant. Another listed city was Houston, which may have one of the lowest national recycling rates but it’s the third highest green job market, according to Forbes.

Via Earth911.com

The ubiquitous polyethylene grocery bag is a marvel of modern plastics technology – cheap at about a penny a piece, lightweight yet strong enough to hold a heavy load without leaking, reusable for thousands of chores and eminently recyclable to make more bags or other greener products.

They are not without critics, however. They are too often found blowing in the wind, defacing the landscape, are not biodegradable in landfills and many consider them harmful to wildlife.

Regardless, plastic bags and wraps are inexorably intertwined with everyday life and are apparently here to stay. Many of the problems can be greatly mitigated by personal responsibility to prevent littering and by highly aggressive recycling programs to recover more of a valuable commodity.

In 2008, of the 2,900 thousand tons of polyethylene bags and wraps produced, 390 thousand tons were recovered for a recycling rate of 13.4 percent.

To cope with the litter and wildlife endangerment issues, the City of San Francisco banned plastic bags altogether and dictated paper bags, or the alternative of bringing a carry-all. In effect, forcing a paper bag is a hidden tax because it costs five times more than its plastic counterpart and the burden is ultimately borne by the consumer. Few realize the environmental life-cycle consequences of this policy. Making paper bags produces about twice the greenhouse gas emissions as plastic and results in about 80 percent more waste. And because paper bags are much heavier than plastic, it takes seven times greater trucking to get bags to the store, resulting in more emissions. If not made from recycled paper, consumers should also consider the destructive forestry-wildlife implications of paper bags, the costs and emissions of transporting wood, and the serious energy, air and water consequences of pulping and paper mills.

On January 1, Washington DC imposed a five cent tax on paper and plastic grocery bags. “Since a plastic bag only costs about one cent, comparatively it’s a huge tax. We are concerned about programs like that and the impact it may have on bag and wrap recycling,” commented Christman.

Polyethylene is created through polymerization of ethene gas with approximately 80 percent of the material coming from natural gas. It is the most widely used plastic, primarily used for films, bags and packaging. Today, most commercial polyethylene winds up in landfills and some, unfortunately, in streams, lakes and oceans, which is a shame because when reused or recycled it is a useful material. Conventional polyethylene is not considered biodegradable and takes hundreds of years to degrade, except when exposed to ultraviolet light.

There are “biodegradable” alternatives being marketed, but they are usually more expensive compostables that only breakdown when professionally managed in industrial food-composting facilities, of which there are fewer than 100 in the United States.

These so called biodegradables, however, pose a threat to recyclers. If incorporated into recycled products such as plastic lumber, the inherent ability to breakdown is a major problem.

It is unlikely that society will revert to paper bags, or toting wicker baskets, for that matter. In the effort to “reduce, reuse and recycle”, the humble plastic grocery bag could be the poster child for reuse. According to a national survey conducted by APCO, an international research firm, over 92 percent of Americans reuse plastic bags for things like wastebasket liners, trash disposal, carrying articles and disposing of animal refuse. Google “reusing plastic bags” and you can find hundreds of other clever ways people have found to reuse them, ranging from packing material to storage applications to emergency rain cover. Sadly, only four percent said they recycled.

The most expedient and practical solution to the disposal problem is a continuous life cycle of recycling driven by a growing recognition that plastic is a resource well worth recovering. To that end, many new collection programs are being expanded across the country. Christman cited a few examples of the momentum – “A few weeks ago Target announced that they were starting to take back plastic bags at their stores. In addition, we know of about 15,000 plastic bag and wrap drop off locations in the 50 states. We helped establish 133 of those in 2009 with pilot programs in Lake County, Illinois and Orange County, North Carolina. Recently the City of Philadelphia started working with community partners on a new program called “Bring it Back Philly.”

Last year the Progressive Bag Affiliates, an industry group of major United States bag manufacturers, launched their Full Circle Initiative. Members committed to the goal of having 40 percent recycled content by 2015. This is feasible as more governments require bag recycling. California, New York, Rhode Island and Delaware and cities like Chicago and Tucson have recently passed laws requiring stores to take back plastic bags and film for recycling, and many more mandates are coming.

Once educated, retailers should welcome recycling bins at their stores. It’s not only a responsible community service, but also an additional revenue stream.

Companies like Trex, the country’s largest manufacturer of wood-alternative decking, railing and fencing products that uses 95 percent recycled plastics and wood scrap such as sawdust, are hungry for bales of reclaimed polyethylene. “Last year we collected over two billion bags. That equates to over 30 million pounds of bags,” said Dave Heglas, director of material resources for Trex. “We sample our bales and count the numbers of bags just to see what the breakdowns of our mixed bales are. For all plastics we were over 200 million pounds last year. We recycle a lot of stretch film, too, and packing for furniture and electronics, primarily polyethylene, but we can tolerate a little bit of polypropylene and mitigate it with our process,” Heglas added.

Trex’s largest source of inbound plastic comes through partnerships with national retailers that have distribution centers serving a large number of stores. After products are delivered to a store, the empty truck picks up plastic from collection bins and waste plastic generated through operations and returns it the distribution center. There it is combined with waste film generated at the distribution center, baled and accumulated in a trailer. In many cases, Trex parks an empty trailer outside the distribution center. When it is full, Trex picks it up and provides another empty trailer.

“We help the distribution center consolidate the material, whether we sell them a baler, or help them buy a baler with the plastics they generate,” Heglas explained. A large Trex account can pay off a baler costing about $12,000 in a year and a half with the plastic it generates, but the company calculates whatever investment it makes is a two-year payback. After that, since balers have a long life a recycler can count on a long term, consistent revenue stream. “Depending on how much we have to invest in helping a company collect and how clean the stream is, we pay anywhere from zero to 15 cents a pound,” said Heglas.

According to Heglas, the stream does not have to be super clean, but it has to be dry with a conscious effort that the collection process is distinct from trash. Trex also has other collection channels through food distributors that serve multiple grocery chains, through companies that call on smaller stores and with and recyclers that consolidate the material.

To collect more material Trex is going deeper into the collection stream. They are in the early stages of developing a 50-pound baler that it is targeted at a $3,000 dollar cost. This will permit small retailers, schools and non-profits to efficiently pack and tap an income source.

“Almost every large grocery store has a collection bin out front. It may not be in a place where easily seen, so we try to get them to promote and manage it better. We have to educate people to the fact that if they want to use plastic packaging there is a way to recycle it. That’s why we have really targeted the schools. We have over 160 programs in 21 states and Canada at the elementary school level getting kids educated to the fact that polyethylene packaging can be recycled,” said Heglas.

The problems caused by plastic grocery bags, dry cleaning bags, bubble wrap and other polyethylene packaging materials can largely be solved through an aggressive recycling effort. To increase recovery, more highly-visible recycling bins and drop off points are needed. Just as consumers have been educated to recycle cans, bottles and paper, there must be a greater effort to get a strong message out to the public.

Via American Recycler June 2010 Issue

Via Earth911

Who doesn’t love a good dose of facts with their morning cup of joe?

Knowing the facts can help you make smarter choices in the end. We put together a quick cheat sheet of facts about plastics recycling from some experts.

It’s about to get a little geeky, so sit back, push up your glasses and enjoy your coffee!

Plastics industry as a whole

1. While overall recovery of plastics for recycling is relatively small – 2.1 million tons, or 6.8 percent of plastics generation in 2008 – recovery of some plastic containers has reached higher levels. PET soft drink bottles were recovered at a rate of 37 percent in 2008. Recovery of HDPE milk and water bottles was estimated at about 28 percent in 2008.
Source: U.S. EPA

2. The amount of plastics generation in MSW has increased from less than 1 percent in 1960 to 12.0 percent in 2008.
Source: U.S. EPA

3. Today, 80 percent of Americans have access to a plastics recycling program.
Source: American Chemistry Council

4. In 2008, the United States generated about 13 million tons of plastics in the MSW stream as containers and packaging, almost 7 million tons as nondurable goods, and almost 11 million tons as durable goods. The total amount of plastics in MSW – about 30 million tons – represented 12 percent of total MSW generation in 2008.
Source: U.S. EPA

Plastic bottles

1. Americans buy an estimated 29.8 billion plastic water bottles every year. An estimated eight out of every 10 of these bottles will end up in a landfill.
Source: Container Recycling Institute

2. Plastics are a rapidly growing segment of the MSW stream. The largest category of plastics are found in containers and packaging (e.g., soft drink bottles, lids, shampoo bottles), but they also are found in durable (e.g., appliances, furniture) and nondurable goods (e.g., diapers, trash bags, cups and utensils, medical devices).
Source: U.S. EPA

3. The total pounds of plastic bottles recycled reached a record high 2,410 million pounds in 2008.
Source: American Chemistry Council

4. The 11 states that require small, refundable deposits on water bottles and other beverage containers recycle 490 beverage containers per capita annually, compared to 191 per capita in the other 39 states.
Source: Container Recycling Institute

Recycling plastic bags is extremely important, especially when you consider that countless bags end up in the ocean where marine life can mistake them for food.

Plastic bags

1. Film recovery has increased by 28 percent since 2005. Recovery grew to an estimated 832,394,000 pounds of post-consumer film (including plastic bags) in 2008.
Source: American Chemistry Council

2. As a result of 2009’s International Coastal Cleanup, the Ocean Conservancy found that plastic bags placed second (1.1 million), accounting for one out of every 10 items removed and tallied.
Source: Ocean Conservancy

3. Most grocery stores throughout the U.S. now offer plastic bag recycling since most curbside programs do not accept plastic bags. Sue to their light weight, they can easily get stuck inside machinery when recycled.
Source: American Chemistry Council

4. Standard polyethylene bags don’t biodegrade, they photodegrade. When exposed to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight, polyethylene’s polymer chains become brittle and start to crack. This suggests that plastic bags will eventually fragment into microscopic granules.
Source: Slate

Plastic resin codes

Plastic household containers are usually marked with a number that indicates the type of plastic. Consumers can then use this information to determine whether or not certain plastic types are collected for recycling in their area.

#1 PET, PETE (water and soda bottles, food jars and microwaveable food trays)

• Plastic #1 is one of the most common and highly recycled resins.
• Most curbside programs will accept this plastic in bottle form.
• Plastic #1 is also the main resin targeted with container deposit laws, also called bottle bills.

Read more – 360: Recycling Plastic Bottles

#2 HDPE (plastic bags, milk jugs, detergent bottles, water and soda bottles)

• Recycled plastic #2 content can be found in plastic lumber, buckets and crates, bottles for non-food items (shampoo, detergent, motor oil) and even curbside recycling bins themselves.

Read more – 360: Recycling Plastic Bags

#3 PVC (blister packs, clamshell containers, bags, pipes, some building materials)

• PVC is not commonly recycled or recyclable, nor is it biodegradable.
• More than 7 billion pounds of PVC are thrown away in the U.S. annually, and only 18 million pounds – barely one-quarter of 1 percent – is recycled.

Read more – The Ultimate Plastic Breakdown

#4 LDPE (bags, shrink wrap, coating for paper milk cartons and beverage cups, container lids, squeezable bottles)

• Because plastic #4 is often in film form, it is sometimes not accepted in curbside recycling programs.
• Its material is similar to plastic bags, and some major grocery store chains will accept this plastic packaging for recycling.

Read more – 360: Recycling Plastic Containers 

#5 PP (bottle caps, medicine bottles, yogurt cups)

• Polypropylene has a good chemical resistance, a high melting point and is a strong material.
• It’s ideal for reusable food containers and other packaging that requires durability. But while this resin is as common as a ketchup bottle, it’s still often left out of curbside programs.

Read more – 360: Recycling Plastic #5

#6 PS (takeout containers, foam packaging, packing peanuts, CD cases)

• While most curbside programs do not accept plastic #6 or EPS, there are several community programs that will recycle the material.
• If there are no programs that fit your specific needs or are near your location, AFPR offers a mail-in program for consumers.

Read more – 360: Recycling Plastic #6

#7 Other (bio-based plastics made from corn, potato or sugar derivatives, 3- and 5-gallon reusable water bottles)

• Plastic #7 the catch-all category for those plastic products that do not fit into 1-6.
• These plastics are multi-layered combinations of more than one plastic resin.

Read more – Recycling Mystery: Plastic #7

The Facts About Paper and Paper Recycling

The Facts About Paper and Paper Recycling

As our newest oil spill seeps toward the Louisiana coast, it’s natural to wonder whether there are any out-of-the-box ways to clean up the mess. Is rubbing animals with dish detergent the best we can do?

Looking to the Philippines, we found our answer:human hair. In 2006, the country’s worst-ever oil spill prompted an unusual program in the country’s prisons. Thousands of Philippine inmates had their heads and chests harvested foir hair to be used in the clean-up effort.

The hair was combined with feathers to create a spongy material that would soak up the more than 50,000 gallons of industrial fuel that had leaked from a sunken tanker off the central island of Guimaras.

The method was also used in San Francisco, when hair mats were employed to clean up the Cosco Busan spill of 2007, which resulted when a cargo ship hit the base of the Bay Bridge and let loose some 58,000 gallons of oil.

Lisa Gautier, director of a nonprofit called Matter of Trust, donated 1,000 “oil spill hair mats” she had made for the San Francisco Department of the Environment to absorb motor oil spills.

Once the hair mats, which are size of doormats and feel like Brillo pads, had absorbed all the oil they could, oyster mushrooms were cultivated on the mats to absorb the oil and turn the oily hair into nontoxic compost within 12 weeks, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Mycologist and author Paul Stamets donated $10,000 worth of oyster mushrooms to the cause.

So could hair and mushrooms work in the gulf? Yes, indeed. Lisa Gautier is at it again and wants your hair to the help with the clean-up effort. Find out how to donate your excess locks here.

I know what you’re all thinking. “Can you even save three times in one purchase?” In these economically challenging times, we know the importance of such questions. And the answer is “YES!” Each candle is made in Michigan from 100% soy wax. All materials are environmentally friendly, including metal free wicks. Read on to find out about the triple savings on these delicious, eco-friendly candles from Verde Lifestyles!

Savings #1: It’s pretty straightforward! For a limited time, you can save 30% on our fall collection of soy candles! Savings #2: In addition to the discount, these organic candles are will burn for much longer than a typical candle. This means with the purchase of each candle, you’re saving yourself the cost [and trouble] of replacing it sooner. Savings #3: is the most important, so pay attention! By burning soy candles, you can save the environment [and your health]! There are many benefits to using soy candles. Soy wax is non-toxic and burns cleaner than paraffin. Most common non-soy candles produce soot which can blacken walls and contaminate ventilation systems. Soot can also add toxic carcinogens into the fresh air you’re breathing. Soy wax burns slower and cooler than other waxes, which creates a longer burning candle that you can enjoy for a long time. Soy wax is also beneficial to farmers because soy bean cultivation stimulates agricultural and economical growth. Most importantly, soy is a biodegradable and renewable resource, thus helping the planet and all of it’s inhabitants.

So there you have it! Three big savings for the purchase of these delicious-smelling, soy wax candles from Verde Lifestyles today!

Americans purchase nearly 3 billion dry-cell batteries every year to power radios, toys, cellular phones, watches, laptop computers and portable power tools, according to the U.S. EPA.

Despite a down economy, battery recycling is at an all-time high. According to Call2Recycle, battery recycling collection saw a 6.9 percent increase, and Call2Recycle collected 6.1 million pounds of rechargeable batteries in 2009.

But most of us just don’t know the technical lingo for the batteries we have and where to start recycling. So, we did the homework for you – a cheat sheet for the most common batteries and how to properly dispose of them.

Single-use batteries

Techie term: Alkaline manganese

Your standard single-use AA and AAA batteries are in the electrics you use daily – your remote control, toys, even smoke detectors. On average, each person in the U.S discards eight dry-cell batteries per year, according to the EPA.

The good: Single-use batteries are produced on a greater scale than rechargeables, making them initially cheaper to purchase. They are also prevalent and widely available, making recycling easily accessible.

The bad: Single-use are often considered more “wasteful,” because we consume such a large quantity of them. And this may sound redundant, but you can only use them once, increasing the need to have extra batteries around at all times in case your (insert electronic gadget here) dies.

The bin: Your local solid waste department may tell you to put alkaline batteries in with your regular trash. This is partly due to the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act passed in 1996, which phased out the use of mercury in alkaline batteries, making them less of an issue when disposed in landfills. But this doesn’t mean alkalines are not recyclable.

If you’re unable to find a local recycling option, you can consider mail-in recycling programs. They are also accepted for recycling at all Batteries Plus locations.

Rechargeable batteries

Techie terms: Nickel-cadminum (NiCd) or the cadmium-free alternative nickel metal hydride (NiMH), which you’ll now find more often with name brands of rechargeable batteries.

The EPA estimates that more than 350 million rechargeable batteries are purchased annually in the U.S. Rechargeable batteries work best in high-tech devices that you will use on a regular basis, such as a digital camera. According to Carl Smith, president and CEO of Call2Recycle, “Rechargeable batteries aren’t necessary for low-cost products that don’t use much power. For example, television remote controls can sometimes last for years on a single-use battery, so it doesn’t make sense to purchase more expensive rechargeable batteries for such a low maintenance device.”

The good: This one may be a given. Because rechargeable batteries can be used over and over again, they are said to save consumers money over the life of each battery. Also, due to the Battery Act of 1996, providing easy ways for the public to recycle these batteries is mandated by law.

The bad: Rechargeables are more expensive upfront and sometimes get a bad rap for not offering enough “bang” for your buck. They also contain a great deal of heavy metals, meaning that if you don’t recycle them, contamination is much more likely.

The bin: While nine states have passed laws banning rechargeable batteries from landfills, New York City and the state of California have passed the only laws requiring manufacturer take-back programs. This means that in four of the 10 largest cities in the U.S., you can purchase rechargeable batteries and know exactly where you can take them for recycling.

But if you live in an area that’s not covered by this mandate, Call2Recycle is a great place to start. Through Call2Recycle’s program, retailers such as Alltel, AT&T, Best Buy, Black & Decker, DeWalt, The Home Depot, Interstate All Battery Centers, Lowe’s, Milwaukee Electrical Tool, Office Depot, Orchard Supply, Porter Cable Service Centers, RadioShack, Remington Product Company, Sears, Staples, Target, US Cellular and Verizon Wireless all offer some sort of battery recycling program.

Extra tidbit: In the debate between single-use versus rechargeable batteries, which one came out on top? You may be surprised…read more

Cell phones, laptops and other portable electronics

Techie term: Lithium-ion or lithium-ion polymer (Li-ion)

One of the newest forms of rechargeable technology is the lithium-ion battery, which is commonly found in cell phones and other popular consumer electronics Photo: Flickr/anabananasplit

One of the newest forms of rechargeable technology is the lithium-ion battery, which is commonly found in cell phones and other popular consumer electronics.

These batteries are also being tested for usage in electric vehicles. In fact, Panasonic recently announced that it will be providing lithium-ion batteries for the new Tesla S Model.

The good: Lithium-ion batteries are recyclable, and the metal content of these batteries can be recovered in the recycling process. There is no issue of a memory effect, meaning they can be recharged before they are completely discharged without affecting the energy capacity. Li-ion are smaller, lighter and provide more energy than nickel cadmium or nickel-metal hydride batteries.

The bad: It’s imperative that Li-ion batteries are not put into a landfill because they have the potential to overheat and explode when exposed to hot temperatures. Also, lithium-ion batteries are more expensive than similar capacity NiMH or NiCd batteries. This is because they are much more complex to manufacture and are produced in smaller numbers.

The bin: You will more than likely dispose of a Li-ion battery along with an electronic device, such as upgrading a cell phone or selling a laptop. In most cases, the company that handles your electronic device will accept the battery as well. Call2Recycle’s program also covers these batteries, so finding recycling locations shouldn’t be a challenge.

Car batteries

Techie term: Lead-acid

Lead-acid batteries power most of our transportation vehicles, including automobiles, boats, golf carts and motorcycles. According to the EPA, nearly 90 percent of lead-acid batteries are recycled.

The good: According to the EPA, nearly 90 percent of lead-acid batteries are recycled, making it one of the highest recycled item in the world. Almost any retailer that sells lead-acid batteries collects used batteries for recycling, as required by most state laws.

The bad: Car batteries are one of the most harmful products in a landfill because they are a mixture of lead and sulfuric acid.

The bin: Whether you’re a DIYer or use a mechanic when changing your battery, most retailers that sell car batteries will also take them back for recycling. AAA also sponsors the annual Great Battery Roundup, which is coming up in April.

Lead-acid batteries are recycled by separating the battery into its three main components: Plastic, lead and sulfuric acid. Reclaimers crush batteries into nickel-sized pieces and separate the plastic components. They send the plastic to a reprocessor for manufacture into new plastic products. A typical lead-acid battery contains 60 to 80 percent recycled lead and plastic.

Hybrid vehicle batteries

Techie term: Nickel metal hydride (NiMH)

The hybrid car has changed the way we think about emissions, fuel and commuting as a whole. In the recent years, it has been a must-have for greenies wanting to reduce their footprints and penny-pinchers looking to reduce fuel costs.

The good: The hybrid battery packs are designed to last for the lifetime of the vehicle, somewhere between 150,000 and 200,000 miles. In fact, Toyota says since the Prius first went on sale in 2000, they have not replaced a single battery for wear and tear. Most warranties cover the batteries for between eight and ten years, depending on the manufacturer.

The bad: While these batteries can be recharged hundreds of times, they may not be the best option for commuting long distances. “Nickle metal hydride is really only going to take a vehicle 35-40 miles, and that’s just not efficient in the long run,” says Peter Fannon, vice president of Government and Corporate Affairs for Panasonic

The bin: According to HybridCars.com, Toyota and Honda say they recycle dead batteries and disposal will pose no toxic hazards. Toyota actually puts a phone number on each battery, and they pay a $200 “bounty” for each battery to ensure that it will be properly recycled.

Extra tidbit: Currently, manufacturers are using NiMH batteries for hybrids and electronics. But the industry is expected to shift toward lithium soon, creating a need for recycling technology for both types of batteries.

“The shift to lithium-ion – along with many companies investing in this technology – is clearly the next near-term goal to make that the norm for electric vehicles,” says Fannon.

Watches, hearing aids and other tiny electrics

Techie term: Silver oxide or “button-cell”

Most small, round “button-cell” type batteries found in items such as watches and hearing aids are known for their size, long storage life and the ability to work well in low temperatures.

The good: Button cells are increasingly targeted for recycling because of the value of recoverable materials, their small size, and their easy handling relative to other battery types. Silver oxide batteries are typically shredded during the recycling process to recover the valuable heavy metals.

The bad: Don’t let the size fool you. These batteries are potent, containing mercury, silver, cadmium, lithium or other heavy metals as their main component.

The bin: Due to the fact that they aren’t rechargeable, Call2Recycle’s program does not cover these types of batteries. In many cases, a professional will replace these batteries, so ask the business if it will recycle the battery for you. If not, often times these batteries are accepted as part of household hazardous waste programs sponsored by your state or county.

About 200,000 square feet of the graphic wraps, made by 3M Canada Co., were displayed at Olympic venues during the games, the companies said, wrapped on vehicles and other displays.

Now that the Games are over, Mannington Commercial is taking all of the material and plans to recycle it into commercial flooring for its Premium Tile line, which also uses scrap drywall and VCT removed from renovation sites.

"We learned about Mannington´s precedent for recycling mixed waste similar to our graphic materials into flooring," says Richard Chartrand, vice president of display and graphics business at 3M Canada. "Most recycling facilities would quickly turn away from the colorful, irregular shaped lumps that the graphics result in after use, but Mannington was up for the challenge."

The Premium Tile line is popular for educational, health care and retail uses, Mannington officials said."