Recyclable and compostable materials

Post-consumed products from paper, raw or plastic materials can be recovered, processed and recycled for reuse in various industries. 

Recycling is a process to change waste materials into new products while preventing the waste of potentially useful materials, reducing energy usage, reducing air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling). For example, used office paper would be converted into new office paper, or used foamed polystyrene into new polystyrene.

Composting which is the process of recycling organic waste materials into a rich soil known as compost, returns nutrients back into the soil in order for the cycle of life to continue. Finished compost looks like soil–dark brown, crumbly and smells like a forest floor.

 

What’s compostable?

Composting is not as hard as you might think. If it is food or a food-related paper product, it can go in the green bin. Plastic straws, cup lids, and other plastics are not compostable, so please take a moment to remove these items from their partner paper products. Breaking up isn’t always easy, but in this case, it is the right thing to do. When the green bin gets contaminated with too much non-compostable plastic, we have to throw the whole thing in the garbage! For your reference, here’s a list of what’s compostable:

All food

fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, shellfish, bones, rice, beans, pasta, bread, cheese, and eggshells, oyster shells, burritos (without foil wrappers), etc.

Food-soiled paper

waxed cardboard, napkins, paper towels, paper plates, paper cups (without lids) paper milk cartons, tea bags, coffee grounds/filters

Plants

floral trimmings, tree trimmings, leaves, grass, brush, weeds

Biodegradable food serviceware

This includes paper plates, paper coffee cups, and “bio-plastics,” which look like plastic but are made out of corn, soy, potatoes, or other organic materials.

www.ecostimule.com