GF

Can Carpet Be Recycled? Environmentally Friendly Options Nearly all types of carpet can be recycled, but the process may not be as simple as putting your old carpet out for curbside recycling. Because carpet is made from so many layers of materials, including fibers and plastics, they don’t degrade easily in landfills. Many municipalities won’t even accept carpets if you toss them out with your other household trash for this exact reason. Instead, you may have to take them to a designated waste disposal site. Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), a joint industry-government non-profit whose mission is to develop carpet recycling solutions, estimates that 5 billion pounds of carpet were sent to landfills in 2017. There, they can leach toxic chemicals into the soil and groundwater and release greenhouse gases for hundreds of years until they finally degrade. Recycling carpet is a much more sustainable option. Carpet recyclers break them down into raw materials and process those material...

How to Recycle Batteries As the world slowly transitions to cleaner energy, batteries are increasingly in the news. But batteries come with a perplexing twist: What to do with them once they've died? Do you find yourself with a drawer full of loose batteries that you don’t really know what to do with? Whether single-use, rechargeable, or from your vehicle, batteries are recyclable—but it's not as simple as tossing them into the curbside bin.  States have different policies regarding battery disposal. California, for example, considers discarded batteries as hazardous waste, making them illegal to throw into the trash. The state has plenty of resources for ways to safely dispose of batteries, however, from local drop-off centers to mail-in services. In San Francisco, residents who live in single-family homes or small multifamily buildings can put loose household batteries inside a tightly sealed plastic bag, and place them on top of their closed landfill bin, while larger apartm...

How Automated Robotic Equipment Will Improve Your Business Automation through robotic equipment has become a trending solution as businesses look for more efficient ways to operate. The newest devices are efficient and reliable and can save companies a lot of time and money. From manufacturing to healthcare, companies worldwide are implementing their own equipment to help streamline operations. If you’re a business owner looking to improve operations and take sales to the next level, automated robotic equipment might be the solution you need. Improved Efficiency and Accuracy There are various applications for small industrial robots that offer improved efficiency and accuracy. They can perform repetitive tasks with precision and can work 24/7 without breaks, ensuring your production process doesn’t slow down while eliminating human error. With automated robotics, you can increase the amount of work your business completes, which ultimately leads to higher profits. Safety Workplace inju...

Coca-Cola Trials Paper Bottles in Hungary The goal is to avoid plastic and be easily recyclable. Coca-Cola is far from being a role model for sustainable design, but it is doing something interesting in Europe right now. A partnership with the Paper Bottle Company (Paboco) of Denmark has resulted in a unique, mostly-paper bottle that will be able to hold carbonated beverages without exploding from the pressure or losing fizziness.  The goal is to create a fully-recyclable, plastic-free bottle that won't let gas escape, nor affect the flavor of the drink in any way, and after seven years of development, a version is ready for commercial trial. Customers in Hungary will receive their online grocery orders of AdeZ, a dairy-free fruit smoothie, in these paper bottles, and both Coca-Cola and Paboco will be watching closely to see what they think.  Michael Michelson is the commercial manager at Paboco. He told BBC that the bottles are made from a single, seamless piece of paper fibe...

Can You Recycle Used Motor Oil? Used motor oil can be ‘re-refined’ and used again. Used motor oil can and should be recycled. It poses significant health and environmental risks if discarded improperly, and it offers a more efficient, less carbon-intensive alternative to making new motor oil from scratch. What Is Motor Oil? Motor oil is any oil used as an engine lubricant. It typically includes gasoline- and diesel-engine crankcase oils, as well as piston-engine oils for cars, trucks, boats, airplanes, locomotives, and heavy equipment, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Motor oils may be petroleum-based or synthetic, although synthetic oils are still primarily made from fossil fuel sources. Motor oil itself is highly durable, but its dirty job still takes a toll. During normal use inside your engine, motor oil accumulates impurities ranging from dust and dirt to metal scrapings and various chemicals, eventually impeding its lubrication. On top of its own toxic...

How to Recycle Laptops Safely and Responsibly Plus ideas for reusing your old laptop. Old laptops are typically not accepted in curbside recycling programs, but they can be processed through special e-waste recycling programs. And because laptops may contain valuable materials, including gold, silver, and platinum, recycling them is actually profitable, which means plenty of eager recyclers are willing to take them off your hands.  Since laptops do contain heavy metals and hazardous chemicals that can negatively impact the environment, they should be handled carefully and recycling should be left to the professionals. Laptop Recycling Facts Generally, all parts of a laptop are recyclable. Laptops consist of things like glass, metal, batteries, and electronic parts that can all be recycled at specialized facilities. Some of a laptop’s electronic parts, like motherboards and hard drives, can even be sold and reused in refurbished products. How to Prepare Your Laptop for Recycling You...

How to Recycle Light Bulbs and Why You Should All types of light bulbs are recyclable, even those that contain traces of mercury. In fact, some types of light bulbs must be recycled—when tossed in the trash, they leach environmentally harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater. How to Recycle Light Bulbs Each type of light bulb is recycled differently and each state and municipality has different requirements and recycling programs in place. While your curbside pickup recycling program may accept LED light bulbs, it typically will not take incandescent or CFL bulbs that may contain hazardous chemicals. Many states have specific recycling programs available for these materials. Incandescent Light Bulbs An incandescent light bulb consists of a glass enclosure containing a filament typically made from tungsten, a metal with a high melting point. When you turn an incandescent light bulb on, a current passes through the filament and heats it until it’s white-hot and produces visible li...

Top Things That Aren't Recyclable We've all probably been guilty of this recycling no-no at least once — discarding a disposable coffee cup or food takeout container in our bin. While you may be thinking you're doing your part to help, your optimistic recycling may actually be hurting the process. Depending on where you live, there are some items that simply aren't recyclable, including varieties of paper, glass and plastic. Check with your city service provider to know specifics, but here's a list of items that generally are not recyclable, along with suggestions on how you can dispose or reuse them. Aerosol Cans Sure, they're metal. But since spray cans also contain propellants and chemicals, most municipal systems treat them as hazardous material. Batteries These are generally handled separately from both regular trash and curbside recycling. Brightly Dyed Paper Strong paper dyes work just like that red sock in your white laundry. Ceramics and Pottery This in...

Scientists Create 100% Biodegradable Paper Straws That Don’t Get Soggy The strong paper straws are easy to make and degrade to nothing. Eco enthusiasts who've already eschewed straws may wonder what the point is in developing new ones. But for anyone unable or unwilling to abide by a soggy paper straw, a strong yet fully biodegradable one has been invented by scientists at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT). The discovery comes from the joint research team of Dr. Oh Dongyeop and Dr. Kwak Hojung of KRICT and Professor Park Jeyoung of Sogang University. The new straws are easy to mass-produce and could fill the gap between consumers wanting a rigid straw and regulations on plastic straws in restaurants and cafés. Changing consumer habits and weaning the world off straws would be the best-case scenario (with an exception for those who rely on straws for health and other reasons). But in the meantime, a truly biodegradable straw that can stand up to the complai...

Can Paper Plates Be Recycled? Composting and Other Eco-Friendly Alternatives The short answer is yes and no. While some paper plates can be recycled, the vast majority usually can’t. Rather than throw them away after one use, consider more eco-friendly alternatives. Nearly 220 million Americans use paper plates and cups, and this figure is expected to continue rising. As of 2018, the U.S. paper plate and cup market was worth $20.7 billion, making the country one of the largest consumers of these items worldwide. Why (Most) Paper Plates Can’t Be Recycled  There are two main reasons why the majority of paper plates can’t be recycled: They’re Coated in Wax, Plastic, or Clay This coating offers a smooth surface and prevents the paper plate from soaking up liquids or grease. Usually, the coating can’t be separated from the paper in a recycling facility, so paper plates can’t be recycled like regular paper. Some municipalities may accept clean coated paper plates along with to-go food co...