At the RTC, sustainability is at the core of our mission. While our special focus is transportation emissions, we support any initiative that helps reduce our carbon footprint.
Most of us now make recycling a routine part of our daily lives. We know the important part it plays in protecting the environment and conserving our natural resources. Yet, how often do you still ask yourself, “Can I put this in the recycling bin?” or “What do I do with items like used light bulbs or batteries?”
In celebration of the 26th annual America Recycles Day, we’ve compiled a few tips to help you up your recycling efforts.
Generally, these are the most commonly recycled items:
- Cardboard
- Paper
- Food boxes
- Beverage cans
- Food cans
- Glass bottles
- Jars (glass and plastic)
- Jugs
- Plastic bottles and caps
While all bottles, cans and containers should be clean, dry and free of most food waste before you place them in your recycling container, they don’t need to be spotless. The goal is to make sure they are clean enough to avoid contaminating other materials.
Typical household items that cannot be recycled include pizza boxes, batteries, diapers, plastic bags, wood/yard waste, food waste, household cleaners, electronics, bubble wrap and stuffed animals. You can find a more comprehensive list at Republic Services.
Household hazardous waste (HHW) such as paint, flammable liquids, pool chemicals, batteries and others require special handling. In Clark County, Republic Services maintains a HHW collection service at two locations – one in North Las Vegas and another in Henderson. The locations are open Wednesday to Saturday but with a rotating schedule between the two locations.
For more do’s and don’ts of recycling, visit Sustainable Nevada.
