What Do Those Symbols Mean?
Everyone thinks they recognize the recycle symbol. Typically, it looks like three arrows chasing each other in the shape of a triangle, but what about all the other versions and symbols? Don't they mean recycle too?
In 1970, the original design of the recycle symbol was created by 23-year-old student, Gary Anderson. He was the winner of the Container Corporation of America’s (CCA) inaugural Earth Day competition. Little did anyone realize that it would become such a commonplace icon of the 21st century!
However, the commonplace, unregulated printing of this symbol has become a problem. This is because when people see what they interpret to be a recycling symbol, they automatically think, “I can recycle this!” and toss the item into the recycling bin. The belief that these emblems mean an item is recyclable is a common misconception.
Just because a circular symbol with arrows is printed on an item, doesn’t mean an item is recyclable in your current system!
It’s mind-blowing and maddening, isn’t it?!
Let’s break it down:
The overall looping design represents circularity. This means keeping materials in the loop to reduce waste. The three chasing arrows represent the concepts of reduce, reuse, and recycle. However, these should be viewed as separate entities:
Reduce: First, do you recognize the amount of waste you produce? Are you actively taking steps to reduce it?
Reuse: Second, are you utilizing the materials you have by reusing them to their maximum potential instead of getting rid of them after one use?
Recycle: Then, LASTLY, consider how to manage the waste you have and ask yourself “Is it appropriate material for the recycle bin?” If not, it MUST go to the landfill.
If you look at the recycle symbol piece by piece, and ask yourself those questions, it makes more sense!
Now, what about those numbers? Aren’t those numbers supposed to tell us if we can put an item into our recycling cart?
The simple answer is NO! Generally, ignore them. There are more than 30 kinds of plastics, with more being developed every day, and our best Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) can usually identify and recover 5 of them. These numbers are called resin codes. They were designed by manufacturers to identify chemistry classifications of plastics, NOT for residents to determine if the item is eligible for the recycling cart.
Yes, this can all be frustrating and sometimes even make us want to give up. It’s important to remember that if you feel this way, you are making it too complex and overburdening yourself. Take a step back and remember to keep it simple. Review the curbside guidelines below, ask yourself the questions listed above, and stick to recycling those items only. Don’t get bogged down in the occasional item you have in hand that is not pictured. If you are uncertain if it’s appropriate material for the recycle bin, then don’t risk contamination by wishcycling. Put it in the trash and keep the value of the truly recyclable material high.
As the world comes to terms with the growing amounts of waste generated every day, understanding what can and can’t be recycled is increasingly important. Not only do we need to divert more waste away from landfills, but we also need to keep materials in the loop for as long as possible so that we can reduce our reliance on virgin materials and avoid the environmental impacts associated with extracting them.
Electric does NOT mean Electronic!
This may sound like another case of Tomayto, tomahto and potayto, potahto. However, electric and electronic devices are quite different and commonly confused.
All electronics are electrical, but not all electrical systems are electronic. The distinction between the two comes down to how devices manipulate electricity to do their work.
Typically, if something uses electricity as energy, it is electric. If it uses electricity for manipulating information, it is electronic.
Electrical devices take the energy of electric current and transform it into a form of energy such as light, heat, or motion. For example, the heating elements in a toaster turn electrical energy into heat so you can toast your bread. Likewise, the motor in your vacuum cleaner turns electrical energy into motion that drives a pump to suck up the toast crumbs that fall into your carpet.
In contrast, electronic devices do much more. Instead of just converting electrical energy into heat, light, or motion, electronic devices are designed to manipulate the electrical current itself and coax it into doing interesting and useful things. For example, electronic devices can add sound information to an electric current so that you can listen to music or talk on a cellphone and video devices add images to an electric current so you can watch movies.
As technology advances the distinction between electric and electronic becomes blurry. For example, a run of the mill toaster versus a toaster that lets you program an image to burn into the toast and then sends you an email when the toast is done. While this example is laughable it highlights that blurry line.
So why is it important to distinguish the difference? SWANCC receives a plethora of calls questioning if an item is accepted into our electronic recycling program. Most often the items in question (such as toasters, coffee makers, lamps, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, hairdryers, mixers, blenders, stereo equipment, etc.) are not electronic at all, but instead electric.
Electric items do have value to recycle (but can NOT go into your curbside recycle bin). They can often go to a special collection point where the valuable materials will be separated and recycled. When recycling or scrapping is not an option, they may be accepted by your hauler in weekly collections and can safely be sent to the landfill.
In 2012, Illinois adopted legislation that prohibits landfilling of "Covered and Eligible Electronic Devices". Thus, the electronics accepted into SWANCC's program are limited to the IEPA accepted items. Check the Electronics Recycling page on our website for details. Other electronic devices not on this list are also important to recycle but must be done through other special collection options.
Electric or electronic - if it not accepted into SWANCC's program here are some resources for recycling:
SWANCC's digital Reuse and Recycling Directory
Elgin Recycling, located in Arlington Heights. (847) 741-4100
Local Best Buy Stores
Metals are elements that start out as rocks called ores. It takes a lot of energy to mine, grind, and heat them to get the parts we want. This process is very energy intensive and invasive to our Earth. To reduce this environmental impact, recycling metals is important.
However, NOT all metal can go into your curbside recycling cart! The only metals accepted curbside are clean aluminum and steel food-based items. These items include steel soup, vegetable, and pet food cans. Also accepted are aluminum beverage cans, foil, and other disposable aluminum cooking tins.
It’s important to remember that most recycling facilities are designed to capture items disposed of with regularity. So, aside from the steel and aluminum items mentioned above, other metals cannot be recycled curbside. This is because it is unlikely to be identified and sorted properly, and because of the danger it poses to the recycling workers and automated sorting machinery. While magnets and sorters may capture some items, small parts and sharp objects can be hidden. This contributes to dangerous work conditions and contamination.
Items that are not food related containers are considered "scrap metal”. These metals include copper, steel, brass, and iron. Examples of these scrap metals include lawn mowers, snow blowers, metal grills, bicycles, cast iron sinks/bathtubs, metal fencing, metal car parts, furniture, chains, etc.
Generally, there are two options for recycling scrap metal:
- Option 1: Bring your unwanted metals to a local scrap metal recycler. It’s always a good idea to call first to check availability.
- Option 2: If you do not have a way to transport scrap metal to a recycling facility, call your garbage hauler or a scrap metal recycler to see if they offer local pickup.
A helpful app to locate a scrapyard near you is the iScrap App.
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!