Project 358: Day 20

Day 20: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

We finished this carton of orange juice the other day and I realized I wasn't sure if it was recyclable or not (we don't usually buy this kind of orange juice). I started scanning the carton for clues and came across this label: "Recyclable only in areas where facilities exist. Visit recyclecartons.com to see if recyclable in your area." I visited the website and discovered that Sac County does indeed recycle this type of beverage carton. How wonderful! Visit the website yourself to see if your county does the same. Remember to rinse the carton and remove the cap prior to dropping the carton in the can.

When it comes to recycling programs, we in Sac County are pretty darn lucky. They provide us with large recycling bins and will even give you one or more additional cans at no extra charge (we recently requested a second can because one never seemed to be enough). We are not even required to separate our recycling, we just throw it all in one can, haul it out to the street every other week, and the County takes it from there! Really, it is so easy, there is absolutely NO excuse to not do it.

If you are unsure about what can and cannot be recycled, this page from the Sacramento County Waste Management website lays it all out for you in detail. Seriously, if you haven't already, please check it out. You'll be amazed by how many things you can (and should) throw in that can.

A side note, still on the subject of recycling: I found out recently that the  Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op is now collecting wine corks for recycling (to be made into such things as shoes and flooring). So, instead of tossing those corks in the trash, save 'em up. Next time you're in the area, stop by the Co-op for lunch at their fantastic deli and drop the corks off for recycling while you're there. Win-win!