Sunday, November 15, 2009

America Recycles Day & a Giveaway

This giveaway has ended. Thanks to all that entered!!
Today is America Recycles Day! Today is dedicated to educating and encouraging everyone to recycle and purchase recycled goods. Recycling has become so much easier than in the past. 20 years ago there were only 1,000 curbside recycling programs and now there are over 10,000!!

Here are a few recycling tips that you may or may not know:

Cleanliness:
Make sure you wash out all plastic bottles and cans and keep boxes dry. This will cut down recycling costs, which are already high!

What can't be recycled:

  • Pizza boxes are not ok to recycle. Since they have been contaminated with food and can't be washed, they can't be reused. You can always keep the top of the box for art projects with your little ones. They make great canvases and can also be used under paints to keep your kiddos mess to a minimum.
  • Make sure you take off every cap or lid! If you do not take off the cap, the bottle will be trashed since the workers don't have the time to take off every cap/lid. Most lids are made out of different plastics than their bottles and have to be separated. Caps can also damage the machines used in the recycling process, so most recycling centers do not take them. You can save them and take them to Aveda for them to reuse in their products.
  • Trash bags and grocery bags cannot be recycled in bins. You can take them to your local market for their own recycling program.
  • Styrofoam, ceramics, wax paper, light bulbs and food soiled paper are also not recyclable.

What can be recycled:
Steel cans, aluminum cans, milk jugs, newspapers, magazines, phone books, junk mail, plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, cereal boxes, plastic toys, and other clean dry cardboard boxes. If you break down shipping boxes, they will be accepted.

Check out this video on the recycling process... it's pretty cool.


The Giveaway: Little Green Books would like to help raise awareness about recycling by giving away 2 "The Adventures of an Aluminum Can" and 2 "The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle." I did a review several months ago and you can read it here about these amazing books! The 2 lucky winners will also receive "Santa Claus Is Green." I will be back in a few with that review!

Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST November 29, 2009 to enter. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced after they respond to the winning email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the winning email, or a new winner will be chosen. You must leave your email address! This contest is open only to the US

How to Enter:
Take the America Recycles Pledge and tell me 1 recycling tip that I didn't mention. Make sure to leave your email address!! I cannot contact the winner without it!

EXTRA entries: You must complete the "How To Enter" before making any extra entries. Make sure you leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one.

2. Become a fan of Mkokopelli on FB, Mkokopelli on Twitter, or Follow my blog
3. Subscribe to my blog by email (on the right sidebar) You must verify and be active at the time of the giveaway- those who are unverified will become disqualified
4. Blog, Tweet or send a message on FB and leave a link here (3 extra entries total)
5. Enter another giveaway I have going on and tell me which one or leave a comment on a
non-giveaway post

6. Go to Little Green Books Recycling Activities and tell me 1 of the answers to the "Don't Throw That Away" activities
7. Go to Keep America Beautiful and look up where you can recycle batteries near you. Tell me the store that accepts them
8. Subscribe to the RSS Feed of the Little Green Blog

66 comments:

  1. Waxed freezer boxes can't be recycled.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. email subscriber

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Did not know that about lids...also: Hazardous wastes have their place
    Household hazardous wastes like paint cans, motor oil, antifreeze, car batteries, pesticides, pool chemicals, etc., usually need to be disposed of separately. Again, check your community resources and guidelines.

    ReplyDelete
  4. tweet #1 http://twitter.com/phxbne/status/5774114182
    michelejdaley at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. tweet #2 http://twitter.com/phxbne/status/5774114182
    michelejdaley at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. tweet #3 http://twitter.com/phxbne/status/5774114182
    michelejdaley at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Took the pledge.

    In a lot of cities pizza boxes can be put in the compost container.

    If you put small bins in your house and recycle as you go it makes it much easier.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Check with your local municipality about hazardous waste drop-off locations or events. Those items need to be disposed of separately.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I took the pledge!! Glass beverage containers can be recycled over and over again.
    disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Fan of Mkokopelli on FB

    disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Follow Mkokopelli on Twitter

    disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Follow blog

    disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Subscribe to blog by email

    disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Entered Little Green Books giveaway

    disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Subscribe to the RSS Feed of the Little Green Blog
    disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I took the America Recycles Pledge. Don't send recyclables to the landfill. % soda bottles produce enough fiber for 1 t-shirt. Don't throw it away.
    gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Pledged and learned that 5 PET bottles can make enough fiber for making carpeting or a shirt!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I entered the Little Green books giveaway :D

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  19. "Advanced Auto Parts" aroudn the corner from us does battery recycling!

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  20. For the 'Don't throw that away' activity - cardboard boxes make fantastic baby beds (dolls) for toddlers. This what my daughter has taught me :D Any kind of container can be made into a bed for her baby!

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  21. we'd also love to read Little Monkey birdson@roadrunner.com

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  22. I follow U on GFC birdson@roadrunner.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I can take my used batteries to Radio Shack on Ynez Rd in Temecula Ca 92591 to be recycled birdson@roadrunner.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. entered your ORGLAMIX giveaway birdson@roadrunner.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I took the pledge. If you are not sure about a plastic container that is not marked you can always call the manufacturer at their number on the bottle. Hopefully that will encourage them to make items that are able to be recycled.
    wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  26. Cool! I learned that Glass beverage containers can be recycled over and over again. But they can also be used for other things you may not expect. Like roads. Marbles. Decorative tiles. Surfboards. And a host of other products and materials.

    honey2mommy(at)gmail (d0t)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I learned that if you put small bins in your house and recycle as you go ,it can make it a lot easier for you.


    honeybeez80@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. follow you on twitter as Missybeez80


    honeybeez80@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I entered the Curious Chef Giveaway!

    honeybeez80@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I signed the pledge.

    I have a few recycling tips:

    This isn’t necessarily recycling, but everyone should check their cardboard items or cans for those school programs (like Box Tops or the Campbell’s program). I try to get them beforehand, but sometimes those coupons make their way into the recycle bin.

    I recommend checking with your local recycle center about the pizza boxes. I know that ours does take pizza boxes. Like you mentioned, they don’t want the food on it so they recommend just recycling the top.

    Also, in our area we have a local business that helps support the handicap they make products from the number 5 (I think) plastic containers. It is in the next county over and our county does accept the number 5 plastic, but I try to set a few aside each month to take over to this business.


    footejennifer at hotmail.com

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  31. I am an email subscriber.

    footejennifer at hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I entered your Curious Chef giveaway.

    footejennifer at hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. You should check with your child's school too. Many schools participate in plastic bag recycling (and earn money for it) as well as ink cartridge recycling (again, more money for schools) janainmontana (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  34. For the 'Don't throw that away' activity: we take old coffee cans and art supplies in them.

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  35. Advance Auto Parts recycles batteries. Not far at all from our house.

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  36. Hazardous wastes must be recycled or dealt with separately...

    I actually work for a recycling company, and let me say the rules vary from place to place. It's important to know what's done in YOUR area. Some recycling plants do mixed recycling, where EVERYTHING goes in one chute and is sorted out by machinery. At our place, we don't do glass, but leaving caps on is not a big deal...

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Following on twitter: moziesme

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Following your blog!

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  39. We posted about this giveaway at winning readings; http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/11/little-green-books.html

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. And we're subscribed to Little Green Blog's feed!

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  41. Wraps from cases of soda may be put in recycle bins with plastic bags at markets that accept plastic bags for recycling.

    Thanks for the chance to win these awesome books!

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  42. I follow you on Twitter (MamandeEDS).

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I'm an email subscriber.

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  44. A jar can be turned into a container to keep barrettes or elastic bands. A jar can also be turned into a container to keep honey. Thanks!

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  45. I subscribed to the RSS Feed of the Little Green Blog.

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  46. I can recycle batteries at RadioShack which is 1.3 miles away. Thanks! Good to know since my local Whole Foods recently stopped accepting batteries for recycling!

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  47. Waxed freezer boxes are not to be recycled.

    theyyyguy@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. I had learned that in a lot of cities pizza boxes can be put in the compost container.
    erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  49. I entered the Little Green Books Giveaway.

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  50. I learned that waxed freezer boxes can't be recycled. Thanks for the contest!
    airalynn@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  51. We are so into recycling. These books would be so educational for the grandchildren. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.

    dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  52. I took the pledge. Tip:
    "Recycle your old computers and cell phones. Check out Earth 911's website for information on how you can recycle these items.

    greenmamaspad(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  53. I follow on Blogger
    greenmamaspad(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  54. I follow on Twitter (@greenmamaspad)
    greenmamaspad(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  55. I am a fan on Facebook
    greenmamaspad(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  56. Took the pledge......at my daughters school last year they recycle plastic milk cartons for a place that makes fencing out of it.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Tweet:
    http://twitter.com/MamandeEDS/statuses/6190703697

    Entry #1

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  58. Tweet:
    http://twitter.com/MamandeEDS/statuses/6190703697

    Entry #2

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  59. Tweet:
    http://twitter.com/MamandeEDS/statuses/6190703697

    Entry #3

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  60. I took the pledge. I liked the tip about how a jar can be turned into a container to keep honey.

    lilyk@mail2world.com

    ReplyDelete
  61. I subscribed by email.

    lilyk@mail2world.com

    ReplyDelete
  62. I became your Facebook fan.

    lilyk@mail2world.com

    ReplyDelete