If it lights up, moves, or makes noise, it has a BATTERY! Now what?
Have you noticed that many household items light up, move, or make noise? If so, they contain a battery, and those batteries are likely rechargeable.
Batteries are designed to pack a lot of energy into a tiny space. Many batteries are similar to child who eats to much candy and ends up "exploding" with the energy that is trapped within. Similarly, when batteries become overcharged, discharged to quickly, or damaged, they too can explode - literally. A particular culprit in this category of batteries are the lithium chemistries. From the tiniest buttons to the larger blocks, these batteries come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. This can often make them challenging to identify.
Where do we find these batteries? Everywhere! Cell phones, computers, tablets, radios, power tools, smoke detectors, power banks, remote controls, light up shoes, bikes and scooters, gaming systems, musical cards, electric toothbrushes, e-cigarette and vape devices, watches, ear buds, hobby toys (rc cars, drones, planes, etc), and children's toys are just on the list of common locations for lithium chemistry batteries.
These batteries enhance our lives, but with such convenience comes responsibility. Purchase devices that have been tested and listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory and batteries from a trusted retailer. Keep lithium chemistry batteries out of direct sunlight, away from sources of heat, and always follow manufacturer protocol.
Most often we can use these batteries over and over again without issue. However, if you notice an odd odor, discoloration, or the battery begins to change shape, that could be a sign of danger. Do not spray a lithium battery with water. Instead, bury the battery in a bucket with sand, kitty litter, or potting soil and dispose of it properly.
While recycling plain old alkaline batteries is preferred (through a special collection - not curbside), they are eligible material for the landfill. However, NO OTHER TYPE OF BATTERY CAN GO INTO THE GARBAGE OR RECYCLING BIN! Putting other chemistries of batteries, especially the lithium batteries into either bin is extremely dangerous. They MUST be packaged appropriately and brought to a special collection point.
The good news? All SWANCC communities are eligible to be part of a battery take-back program that includes all chemistries of batteries, including alkaline! This program has no additional cost to residents. Check with your community to see if this program is available to you. If not, encourage them to take part!
If your community does not participate in SWANCC's battery takeback program, you still have other options. Check out:
Naperville Household Hazardous Waste Facility
Solid Waste Agency of Lake County
Search SWANCC's Reuse and Recycling Directory for more options!
Can I recycle plastic bags? Can I recycle plastic shipping packaging? Can I recycle plastic wrap?
Plastic bags and wraps DO NOT go in curbside recycling bins.
Plastic bags and wraps DO go to participating retail store recycling bins.
But why can't it go into the curbside cart? The short answer is that they gum up the works. Stretchy plastic bags and wraps often get stuck in the sorting equipment. Then, workers must shut down the machinery to cut and yank out the contamination. This can be dangerous, and it's a waste of time, money, and material.
Can I put my recyclables in a plastic bag and toss it all into my curbside bin?
NO!
Like other plastic bags and wraps, that plastic trash bag holding your recyclables gums up the works (see above). All recyclables must go into your curbside bin loose (i.e., not in a bag).
Can I put my recyclables in a paper bag and toss it all into my curbside bin?
NO!
Even though the paper bag can be recycled too, restraining recyclable items prevents them from being sorted properly. They must be loose to be identified in the sorting process.
If you do collect your recyclables in a plastic or paper bag, dump the recyclables out of the bag into your curbside bin and reuse the bag if you can!
Foil paper, ribbons, bows, and bags...Ooh my! NO, NO, NO!
One of the most common mistakes is tossing garbage bags full of wrapping paper into the recycle bin. While most wrapping paper is recyclable, placing it all in a bag removes it from the stream. Remember, everything that goes into your recycle bin MUST BE LOOSE - NO BAGS!
Think twice when purchasing wrapping paper. In order to qualify for recycling, it must be 100% paper. So, the rolls that sparkle, or have shiny foil mixed in are NOT eligible for the recycle bin.
We also need to watch out for the ribbon and bows that comes along with the wrapping paper, as those are tanglers. They get caught up in the mechanics, bog down the system, and can shut down the entire sorting line.
All paper has the best chance of being sorted properly if it is folded, not crumpled into a ball.
So, when recycling wrapping paper, remember:
- No foil or sparkly paper in recycling
- No ribbons, string, or bows in recycling
- No bags - loose material only in recycling
- Flatten, don't crumble the paper
Boxes, boxes, boxes...Everything we buy, or order, seems to be packaged in boxes!
The good news is that cardboard and paper boxes can be recycled. While you can leave tape and labels on the box, it is important that boxes are CLEAN, DRY....AND FLATTENED!
It’s important to keep your cardboard boxes clean and dry because contaminated or wet items will affect the integrity of the material and may end up thrown away since saturated cardboard is difficult to recycle.
Why do we flatten boxes and not other items?
In single stream recycling, the burden of mechanically sorting accurately is on the materials recovery facility (MRF) and is determined by the composition of each material. Containers should be kept in their original shape for the best chance of proper mechanical sorting. For example, if a container is in an unfamiliar shape, like a crushed can or water bottle, then it may be mistaken as something different, sorted incorrectly, and contaminate other materials.
Cardboard & corrugated boxes not only take up valuable space when not flattened, but they too are identified by their shape and the only consistent shape for boxes of all kinds is FLAT. So, if you care enough to recycle those boxes in the first place, then take the time to flatten them and keep them dry by closing the lid on your cart.
This is a very common question, and a good one to ask! After all, shredded paper is still paper, and paper can be recycled - right?
Let's look at it this way...Have you ever thrown confetti or done an art project with glitter? If so, then you have experienced first-hand how it gets everywhere, into everything, and you find it hiding away months later!
In a Materials Recovery Facility, shredded paper acts much the same way. The tiny shreds can't be captured in the sorting process, they cling to other objects and flutter around the facility. This causes contamination of other materials. In addition, the small shreddings become embedded in machinery and clog up the sorting equipment.
So, shred at home if needed, but avoid contamination in the recycle stream. Be sure to put shredded paper into the trash, NOT the recycle cart!