Book Review: Can I Recycle This? A Guide to Better Recycling and How to Reduce Single-Use Plastics

A Great Short Read!!!

Can I Recycle This? A Guide to Better Recycling and How to Reduce Single-Use Plastics by Jennie Romer and illustrated by Christie Young is a great short read about recycling. It begins with the history of curbside recycling, then moves to the different types of plastic. It explains the plastic processing, why single-use plastic is bad, and what occurs in a MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) or “the recycling center.” It then reviews 60 distinct consumer items and explains why or why not they can be recycled. And what happens to non-recyclable items like clothes, food (please compost!), batteries etc. It also discusses how waste ends up in our waterways and eventually our oceans. Until consumers start pushing back on manufacturers to be part of the solution and not just the generator of the problem, we will continue to swim in our garbage. The best sentence:

The ultimate goal is to adopt sensible and effective policies to reduce single-use plastic and other packaging, and hold producers responsible for making better packaging and paying for the cost of recycling and waste disposal (and recycling).

Remember to always check with your local recycler to make sure an item is recyclable.
Recyclable Items vary based on the MRF’s ability to separate the items, AND if they have a
buyer for that certain material. In Franklin County, ALL curbside recycling goes to Rumpke’s
MRF on East 5th Ave. Check rumpke.com or SWACO.org to learn what items are recyclable
locally in Hilliard.