What is Recyclable- Kevin Chen

After reading some of my classmates’ blogs, I decided to try some of the one small things (OST) for myself.  The OST came from a mental wellness blog, linked here , that talked about some ways to improve someone's mental wellbeing. With the stress of the PSAT and other schoolwork over this past week, I decided to try one of the OST’s, which was cleaning my room and organizing my workspace. It turns out that cleaning my room did actually help me feel less stressed, and was a good experience. It gave me a sense of nonstressful productiveness because I was cleaning my room, but not being pressured by anything. I enjoyed doing this OST and recommend it to others both as a destresser and to just clear your mind.

On the other hand, when it comes to deciding what to recycle, we often will recycle things that shouldn’t actually be recycled. Although people may be acting through good intentions, these non-recyclables are better off in normal trash cans. In this post, I’ll be detailing some of these common items that are commonly recycled but should not be.  One of these things is styrofoam, which is made of polystyrene, a non-biodegradable material. While some places may accept styrofoam, the vast majority will not. In addition, materials like bubble wrap, cords and wires, paper towels (the paper towel roll is ok), and scrap wood. So how can you make a difference with this information? The next time you see someone you know trying to recycle any of these materials, give them a friendly reminder that it shouldn’t be recycled. While many things in this world are recyclable, many things are also not, which is something we should keep in mind as we decide what to recycle.

While recycling often refers to curbside recycling, there are many things that can be recycled, but not via trash cans. Many of these materials should be brought to places that specialize in them, so it can be recycled properly.  Oftentimes, people will try and recycle plastic bags and plastic wrappings through curbside recycling, but these should actually be brought into local retail stores to be recycled. Although many people are unlikely to bring their plastic bags into stores to recycle, it is still good to know to avoid accidentally recycling things that shouldn’t be. In addition, materials such as batteries, diapers or clothes hangers also should not be recycled via curbside recycling. Although these are recyclable materials, they should be recycled in alternative places that specialize in recycling them. Overall, there are many things that we may mistake to be recyclable, but we should keep in mind that not everything recyclable is recyclable curbside, and should be brought ...

Recycling has always been a recurring cause throughout our lives. Since elementary school, I remember teachers emphasizing the importance of recycling. However, besides recycling paper, and general plastics, it’s not often that we learn about the specifics of what else can be recycled, that we don’t even know about. In this blog, I will be detailing some of these overlooked ways we can recycle, and help improve the environment for the better.  A common household item that is often overlooked is pill bottles. From the bright orange tubes you get from a pharmacy to an ibuprofen bottle, these are all recyclable. You might be thinking that of course these are recyclable because it’s just a plastic bottle, but oftentimes when it comes to trashing the bottles,  people overlook being able to recycle them and instead throw them into the trash. According to a study by Mayo Clinic, almost 70% of Americans take at least one prescription drug, which makes a lot of pill bottles. So how can...