WELCOME TO RECYCLE TRAINING

Learning Starts Here

Knowledge is Power

Recycle Training is an online platform designed to provide education and resources to help encourage more sustainable practices. We offer a range of content and videos that cover the fundamentals of recycling, from the basics of sorting items into proper categories to more advanced topics such as composting and zero-waste living. Our goal is to help create a better future for our planet by helping to spread the message of recycling and sustainability.

At USA Environmental Services, we believe that education is the key to creating a cleaner, more sustainable future. We aim to create a movement around environmental education and awareness by teaching our communities about best practices for recycling. Our goal is to reduce carbon emissions by helping create a cleaner recycling stream. We know that starting education and learning for children is the best way to advance our goal to zero waste in the future.

LEARNING GUIDES

Waste Stream 101: Acceptable vs Non-Acceptable Items

EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS

Know Your Recyclables | Clear Wash Dry | Bags Get Trashed

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Recycle Training Know Your Recyclables

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Recycle Training Know Your Recyclables

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Recycle Training Clear Wash Dry

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BASIC TIPS

Know Your Recyclables | Clear Wash Dry | Bags Get Trashed

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Paper & Cardboard

Office paper, magazines, newspaper, mail and flattened cardboard can all be recycled. These items cannot be recycled if they're contaminated by waste, liquid or food.

Tip 1: Paper cannot be recycled if it is mixed with other materials. Remove plastic windows and bubble wrap before recycling envelopes or padded packaging.

Tip 2: Break down & flatten cardboard boxes. This will provide more space in your recycling bin and ease the recycling process at your local facility.

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Plastic

Plastic bottles, detergent containers and milk jugs are perfect items to place in your recycling container. Grocery bags, styrofoam and bubble wrap cannot be recycled with standard service offerings and should be placed in your trash container for curbside collection. However, there are special handling services that may offer recycling for this type of material if large volumes are present.

Tip 1: Keep the lids on the containers! Some lids may be too little to be recycled by themselves.

Tip 2: Plastic quality test - If you can penetrate the plastic with your finger it should be placed in the trash.

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Don't Bag It

Do not place your recyclables in a plastic bag!

Tip 1: Recyclable items need to be placed in the recycling bin individually. Bundled recyclables that are placed in a plastic bag do not get sorted at a recycling facility and can end up in a landfill.

Tip 2: Plastic bags get caught in the machines used for the recycling process. This causes damage to equipment and impacts processing efficiency.

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No Mixed Materials

Mixed or connected materials cannot be recycled. Some packaging items are made from two connected materials (such as paper and bubble wrap) and unfortunately even though these two materials may be recycled individually, the blend of materials makes the item not recyclable.

Tip 1: Separate the materials found on mixed material items. For example, if you remove the plastic window from an envelope now both materials can be placed in the recycling bin.

Tip 2: If materials cannot be separated, place these items in the trash bin.

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No Soiled Materials

Just one contaminated recyclable can contaminate an entire recycling truck load. Do your part and make sure your recyclables are clean by clearing the contents, washing, and drying the item before placing it into the bin.

Tip 1: Make sure you clear, wash and dry a bottle completely before placing it in the recycling bin. Even a small amount of residual left in a plastic bottle can contaminate the bottle and other recyclables.

Tip 2: If paper or cardboard becomes soiled with food, it can't be recycled and is considered contaminated.

ADVANCED TIPS

Resources | Information | References

Food Scraps & Yard Waste

What food scraps & yard waste can I recycle?

Tip 1: The link below will bring you to an organics recycling educational page. On this page, you will find a link called "Check your local program." From there, you can search for programs available in your City for California residents.

Tip 2: Choose a container size that fits your home or business needs. Find a place to store it. Keep food scraps in the fridge or freezer and dispose of these items on collection day.

Resource Link: https://irecyclesmart.com/organics/

Can All To-Go Cups Be Recycled?

Single-use paper & plastic products, such as most paper coffee cups, are not recyclable. The lid and sleeve are typically recyclable, but the cup will need to be placed in a trash container after it's used. Polystyrene foam cups are not recyclable.

Tip 1: Choose a reusable cup. This will always prevent single-use cups from ending up in a landfill.

Tip 2: Recyclable Items: plastic cold cups & lids, plastic hot cup lids, and cardboard only sleeves. Non-Recyclable Items: polystyrene foam cups, straws, and hot paper coffee cups.

Can All Takeout Containers Be Recycled?

Not all single-use packaging products are recyclable. The acceptance of recyclable material can vary from city-to-city, state-to-state and facility-to-facility. A recovery facility is where your materials go for processing. The following materials are accepted no matter where you live: cardboard, metal cans, paper and plastic containers labeled with a #1 or #2.

Tip 1: Not all parts of a pizza box are recyclable. Oil from pizza contaminates cardboard. The bottom portion of the box needs to be placed in a trash container. If the top lid of your pizza box is oil-free, then it is recyclable!

Tip 2: Plastic utensils, foam containers, condiment packets and plastic bags cannot go in your recycling container. White and brown paper bags are not recyclable. These bags have a special coating that makes the bag "waterproof" to avoid leaking.

Three Easy Rules

Incorporating the following three rules into your daily routine will improve recycling habits: 1: Know your recyclables and always recycle paper, cardboard, metal cans and plastic bottles. 2: Make sure no liquid or food scraps are in your recyclables or bin. 3: Don't bag your recyclables.

Tip 1: Place labels or stickers on your containers to identify the material type that should be placed in each bin.

Tip 2: Make sure your recyclables are clean & dry before placing them into a bin. Do not bag your recyclables.

What to Do with Used Batteries?

Battery recycling Laws vary from state-to-state and are helpful to understand while navigating through your recycling options. It is very important to manage batteries correctly according to type. Certain batteries can cause a risk to health and safety if not properly managed at the end of their lives.

Tip 1: Single-Use Batteries: Do not place batteries in municipal trash or recycling bins. The EPA recommends to send used alkaline, zinc carbon, button-cell, coin and lithium batteries to battery recyclers or check with your state & local solid waste authority.

Tip 2: Rechargeable & Automotive Batteries: Do not place batteries in municipal trash or recycling bins. Common rechargeable battery types are Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Lithium-Ion (Li-ion), Nickel Metal Hydrate (Ni-MH), Nickel Zinc (Ni-Zn) and Small-Sealed Lead Acid (Pb). Common automotive battery types are Lead-Acid and Medium & Large-Scale Li-ion. For rechargable batteries, the EPA recommends to look for labels identifying battery chemistry and contact local recyclers near you. For automotive batteries, the EPA recommends contacting the manufacturer, automotive dealer or company that installed the Li-ion battery for handling options.

Resource Link: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/used-household-batteries#single

Acceptable Recycling Items to Place in Your Blue Bin

Accepted Items: Paper, clean flattened cardboard, plastic bottles & containers, food & beverage cans and containers, glass bottles and containers.

Not Accepted Items: plastic bags, plastic wrap or film, mixed material packaging, cups with wax or plastic coating, polystyrene foam or plastic, tangled items (i.e. holiday decoration lights), dirty diapers, bulky household items and medical waste.

Tip 1: If you are unsure if an item is recyclable, throw it in your trash container. Our printable recycling guides are a great resource for assistance.

Tip 2: Print our container labels and stick them on your recycling bins to easily identify common material types.

Understanding Electronic Waste

According to the EPA, Americans generate more than 3.1 million tons of electronic waste each year. About 60% of this e-waste ends up in a trash container. The EPA considers e-waste to be a subset of used electronics and recognizes the inherent value of these materials that can be reused, referbished or recycled. This minimizes the actual waste that might end up in a landfill or improperly disposed in an unprotected dumpsite, either in the U.S. or abroad. Check out the EPA link below for more information on Electronic Waste.

Tip 1: E-waste refers to electronic equipment or electrical parts that have been discarded by the owner as waste without the intent of reuse.

Tip 2: Electronic waste contains lead, mercury and other hazardous materials. E-waste cannot be placed in your trash or recycling containers and will need special handling services. Reach out to Dumpster Connect to learn about available service options.

Resource Link: https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/cleaning-electronic-waste-e-waste

Local Recycling Information for California Residents

Look up your city or county with the link below to find out what can be recycled in your local curbside program.

Tip 1: A Dumpster Connect representative can help design a program to fit your recycling needs.

Tip 2: Material acceptance for recyclables can vary from facility-to-facility. It is important to learn about the local recycling programs and service options available for your home or business.

Resource Link: https://irecyclesmart.com/find-your-local-recycling-information/

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How To | Education | Information

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WELCOME TO RECYCLE TRAINING

LEARNING GUIDES

EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS

All Videos

Recycle Training Know Your Recyclables

Recycle Training Know Your Recyclables

Recycle Training Clear Wash Dry

Recycle Training Bags Get Trashed

BASIC TIPS

Know Your Recyclables | Clear Wash Dry | Bags Get Trashed

Paper & Cardboard

Plastic

Metal Cans

Don't Bag It

No Mixed Materials

No Soiled Materials

No Wet Materials

ADVANCED TIPS

Resources | Information | References

Food Scraps & Yard Waste

Can All To-Go Cups Be Recycled?

Can All Takeout Containers Be Recycled?

Three Easy Rules

What to Do with Used Batteries?

Acceptable Recycling Items to Place in Your Blue Bin

Understanding Electronic Waste

Local Recycling Information for California Residents

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

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