Today people must consciously set their minds on recycling, but this was not the case a century ago, people did so instinctively out of need.
Back in the early days there were no blue recycling bins, no recycling centers let alone no landfills. Recycling as we know it today simply did not exist, but the people of yesteryear were much better at it.
People from our past recycled as much as possible. If the elbows in a shirt wore out, they would take the sleeves off and turn them inside out, by doing so they renewed the old shirt.
If a dress was no longer in style, they would simply add new buttons that were most likely saved from another old worn-out garment or if you had extra money the dress could be sent to the local dressmaker to be updated into a new frock. But eventually all worn out materials would eventually turn into a quilt, a rag rug, or at the very least a cleaning rag.
Recycling was a necessity but also keep in mind that there was no such thing as garbage pick-ups or even landfills. But as generations continued things were not reused as days of old and stuff just started piling up in homes and businesses.
By the19th century the need for garbage pick-ups and landfills was a necessity but even back then there was some type of recycling. Workers sorted via conveyor belts as early as 1905 and cities sold the reusable trash to industries, and many organics were saved to feed the animals.
Unfortunately, the growing amount of people through the coming years did not care about recycling and this caused the landfills to start filling up by the 1970's.
In the new millennium, the concept of zero waste took hold, it’s challenging the people of today to produce less waste and be mindful of the many avenues to recycling.
Common Recycling Myths
• Most people recycle all they can
• Recycling arrows on a container mean it is recyclable
• Containers must be squeaky clean to be recycled
• All types of glass bottles and jars are recyclable
• Aerosol cans are acceptable in the recycle bins.
Types of Recycling
For specific questions whether a waste item is recyclable or not? The information can be easily found online or check with your local waste management company.
• Wastepaper and cardboard
• Metal recycling
• Electronic devices (cell phones excluded)
• Wood recycling
• Glass recycling
• Clothing
• Textiles
• Mattresses
Non-recyclable Items
• Garbage
• Food waste
• Food tainted items (such as used paper towels, paper plates or paper napkins)
• Ceramics and kitchenware
• Plastic wrap
• Packing peanuts and bubble wrap
• Wax boxes
• Paint cans
Electronic Recycling
Check your local listings where the nearest electronic waste recycling is located, often these types of drop-offs are sponsored at certain times of the month at a designated spot in your city.
• Computers
• Monitors
• Power tools
• Printers
• Scanners
• Routers
• Servers
• Small appliances
• Tablets
Organic Waste
Organic waste makes up about 30% of waste sent to the landfills. If you do not practice composting, then the most common option is to have your local waste management provide a service and a waste container for your organic and green waste.
Bulbs and Batteries Recycling
Recycling bulbs and batteries need to be recycled responsibly. These should not be placed at curbside to be picked up because of hazardous materials that are harmful to people and the environment. Most cities have a hazardous drop off recycling location if your city does not check listings for the nearest one to you.
Mattress Recycling
Every part of the mattress is recyclable. Many products come out of one recycled mattress. And if you have several, in some areas the mattresses can be picked up.
For more information email info@byebyematress.com or you can look up the nearest Bye-Bye Mattress recycling center in your area.
California Recycling Laws
California adopted multiple recycling laws back in 1989 that required cities to recycle paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, aluminum, food waste and green waste. If you are fully committed to recycling it is well advised to do your research so that you have clarity about what is recyclable and what is not, it can be tricky but once you figure it out then you are a superhero to our earth and its environment.
Chino Hills Recycling
Here at Chino Hills Self Storage, we do our best in protecting the earth and its environment. We practice sorting recyclables daily, and if it is not accepted in our waste management bin or our blue recycling can then we transport the recyclables to one of our local transfer stations.
In hopes to help you become a recycling superhero I have listed recycling centers in our community. If you are unsure about a particular recyclable then do what we do here at Chino Hills Self Storage and call one of the centers listed, most often they can give you direction.
Recycling centers in the Inland Empire:
https://www.sarecycling.com/yard/CA-Chino-11614-East-End-Ave/
https://byebyemattress.com/find-a-facility/
https://www.wm.com/location/california/inland-empire/areas.jsp
https://www.cityofchino.org/237/Recycling-Information
