Millions of Texans participate in recycling each year by rolling recycling carts to the curb, taking materials to local drop-off stations, and…, There is no point in recycling, everything goes to the landfill.
It's natural to be a skeptic. After all, once you bring your recyclables to the…, Recycling is too expensive and is a drain on the economy.
Nothing is free, including managing our waste. Whether sending materials to landfills or…, If I'm not sure whether something is recyclable, or if I think it should be, I can put it in the recycling bin. It is better to guess than to throw…, If my plastic container has the "chasing arrows" symbol, then it's recyclable.
You've probably seen the "chasing arrows" symbol on plastic…, Recycling uses more energy or resources than it saves, so it is better to just throw everything away.
The question of whether recycling saves…
Do you live in a community where plastics and paper pile up? What should you do with waste you know doesn’t have to go in the trash? Where are your…
While many areas of Texas offer recycling options, you might live in a community without direct recycling resources. For residents without a local…, Many Texas organizations can assist communities with recycling resources. Whether they offer direct recycling assistance, advocacy support, community…, It is important to keep in mind that the market value for certain recyclable materials fluctuates. Not all materials will have recyclable value,…, If your town cannot afford to recycle, share the expense and logistics on a larger level. Explore partnerships at a county or regional level through…, Recycling is achievable for communities without recycling resources, it just takes a proactive approach to make it happen! Before you take your first…, Here are some additional resources depending on your recycling goals:
TCEQ Recycling Webpage
TCEQ Guidance on Texas Electronics Recycling Webpage…
Why won’t these zombies DIE?!
No, it’s not the evil curse type of zombies. It’s not a canister of spilled, experimental…
This is a different zombie altogether. These recycling myths keep stumbling around the internet, wandering aimlessly in our collective …, FALSE! – If you have a single stream recycling bin (where all your materials are put into one bin), keep your cans intact. While an…, FALSE! – While cans, bottles and containers should be relatively clean, dry, and free of most food waste, they don’t need to be spotless…, FALSE! – Mixing trash and recycling mucks up the entire process. Contamination slows or sometimes stops the recycling process at…, FALSE! – Not all glass is created the same. Light bulbs are different than soda bottles. Glass cookware is different than a wine bottle. They have…, FALSE! – According to the Association of Plastic Recyclers, in the past, the plastics recycling industry couldn’t effectively recycle bottles with…
Millions of Texans across the state have access to recycling programs, whether by rolling a recycling bin to the curb; bringing bottles, cans, or…
This recycled material supply chain is an important and growing piece of the Texas economy. According to the TCEQ’s recently published Recycling…, Recycling from households, businesses, schools, and similar sources is considered municipal solid waste (MSW) recycling. In 2019, Texans recycled…, Recycling provides benefits to the Texas economy in many ways.
Jobs: Recycling supported nearly 23,000 jobs across the state in 2019, including 6,…, Recycling in Texas keeps useful materials out of landfills and creates valuable inputs to manufacturing. Collecting, processing, and transporting…
We’ve all seen the "chasing arrows" symbol on soda bottles, food packaging, cleaner bottles, and plastic bags. When we see that symbol, we know what…
The numbers 1 through 7 in the middle of the 3-arrow icon is a resin identification code. In Texas, all plastic bottles and containers must contain…, PETE stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate. This symbol is commonly found on water and soda bottles, household products like cleaning and detergent…, HDPE is High Density Polyethylene. Products made with HDPE tend to be sturdier than PETE. Milk and water jugs; laundry, shampoo, and motor oil…,
Polyvinyl Chloride, or PVC, is widely recognized as it is used in PVC pipes and plumbing hardware. Medical equipment, electrical insulation,…, You probably encounter LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) nearly every day. Single-use plastic bags (the ones you carry your groceries and other items…,
Polypropylene (PP) plastic is strong, very chemical resistant, and has a high melting point that makes it great for containing hot liquids. It can…, Polystyrene (PS) is also known as Styrofoam. It is commonly found in takeout food containers, disposable ice chests, and product packaging. Other…,
Plastics that don’t fit into categories 1 through 6 are lumped into category 7. These varied plastic resins include polycarbonate and bisphenol A…, While these codes are informative and useful, they don’t tell the whole story. (The intrigue continues!) If you see a “1” code on a plastic bag and…
We know the guilty feeling of throwing away something that might be recyclable. Maybe that item was really heavy. Perhaps it was made of metal. It…
Here at Take Care of Texas, we love supporting avid recyclers. But could you be causing more harm than good when you put these questionable items in…, 1. Time Wasted
A materials recovery facility, or MRF, processes and sorts recyclable material. When items such as plastic bags,…, To be a responsible recycler, familiarize yourself with what can and can’t be recycled in your area. In many cases, items that can and can’t be…
Every Texan can get involved in community activities that help keep our air and water clean, conserve water and energy, and reduce waste.
The…
Mickey Leland Environmental Internship Program interns collaborate with scientific, technical, and business leaders at the Texas Commission on…, Keep Texas Beautiful is a network of dedicated Texans working together to make our state the best place to live, work, and play. KTB equips…, Texas Adopt-A-Highway Program is a Texas-born program that allows volunteers to adopt stretches of state-maintained roadway to conduct litter…, Texas Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens. They…, EcoRise inspires a new generation of leaders to design a sustainable future for all with school-based programs empower youth to tackle real-…, Recycling Programs of the TCEQ is a comprehensive list of resources from Texas’ own environmental regulation agency. Start here for all of your…
The construction and repair of buildings, homes, and other structures generates a great deal of waste. Demolition and renovation projects, including…
C&D debris includes items from buildings, bridges, and road projects such as concrete, asphalt, bricks, lumber, steel, wiring, drywall, carpets,…,
Depending on the material, C&D debris can be reused or recycled in many ways.
Concrete, asphalt, brick, tile, and aggregate (sand,…,
To encourage reuse and recycling, some Texas cities have created ordinances requiring certain C&D projects to divert materials from the landfill…
Did you know Texas is projected to run out of landfill space in just 56 years? That’s if we keep up our current rate of disposal—about 6.5 pounds of…
Because schools accumulate tons of waste—paper, computers, books, plastics, and more—they can also be part of the effort to deal with it effectively…, There are environmental and financial benefits to starting a school recycling program.
You may end up saving your school money on waste disposal…, Don’t forget, there are three R’s: in addition to recycling, it’s important to reduce and reuse, too. Schools can help the environment and their…, We know that school officials, teachers, and parents are pressed for time, so we put together these resources to help make it easier to recycle—…, To get more articles like this one, sign up for our Educator Newsletter. We won’t flood your inbox with emails—the newsletter comes out just…
A 10-year-old Texan has garnered national attention for developing a mobile app to increase recycling in his community.
Prince Nallamothula, an elementary school student from Frisco, developed “3Rapp,” inspired by the “reduce, reuse, recycle” phrase. Prince is one of…, Q: How did Prince learn about EPA's the President's Environmental Youth Award? What inspired him to participate?
A: Prince has basically been…, Our responsibility to sort recycling is crucial to its success. To learn how to recycle where you live, consult with your city or county government,…
Light bulbs are tricky to recycle, as they require special care for safe handling. It can also be a challenge to find a place where they can be…
Did you know that some light bulbs contain mercury, a chemical element that can be hazardous to your health and the environment?
Fluorescent…, If your local HHW collection does not accept fluorescent bulbs or you do not have a collection near you, you can check www.Earth911.com or www.…,
Special care should be taken when handling and disposing of broken fluorescent bulbs.
First, have everyone, including pets, leave the room…, Other types of old or broken bulbs, including incandescent, halogen, and LED, can be disposed of in your regular trash. Some local HHW collection…
Batteries power our lives. From laptops to vehicles, to watches and toys, nearly everything that needs portable power has a battery in it. What…
Dry-cells, rechargeables, and automotive batteries all must be disposed of in specific ways to keep the environment clean and safe.…, Single-use batteries are used in small electronics such as remote controls, flashlights, and other household items. These are designated 9-volt, D, C…, Rechargeable batteries commonly found in laptops, phones, cameras, and cordless power tools should never be thrown in the trash, as…, Improperly disposing of a lead-acid battery found in cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other high-power equipment is illegal in Texas, so…,
Visit RecycleNation.com for recycling sites for single-use batteries, rechargeable, and automotive batteries. You can also call…
One of the reasons plastic has fallen out of favor in recent years is that plastic waste seems to be everywhere. We have all probably noticed plastic…
Reusable bags are an alternative to single-use plastic bags, but despite our best efforts, we may still end up with items such as cling wrap, bread…,
Recyclable films include:
Most single layer plastic bags, including zip-top food storage bags, newspaper bags, and some cereal bags (make…, Plastic film is generally not welcome in curbside recycling programs, largely because such items become tangled in recycling sorting machines—costing…
When we think about recycling, we don't often think about textiles. Textiles are made from natural or synthetic fibers (or a blend), and are used to…
Although some textiles are considered difficult to recycle, it is important to address this growing waste stream. Textiles production has doubled…, A Second Life
When you donate your clothes or other items, you are helping those who need them most. Charitable thrift stores and organizations are…, Reducing waste is the highest priority in the waste management hierarchy, so remember to think before you buy. Consider supporting the circular…, Texas-Based Textile Recyclers
American Textile Recycling Service (Houston) hosts drop boxes for textiles and sorts textiles and other goods for reuse…