Your Biggest Recycling Questions, Answered

Look for easy swaps! As a consumer, choose brands that are beginning to offer recyclable packaging, such as Colgate and Chobani. Think about what waste you produce and how you can cut back. Try shopping at farmers' markets or a zero waste grocery store where you can use reusable containers, and look for local services that can handle your compost and recycling. No one can go zero waste overnight, so start by thinking about ways you can cut back and go from there.

The easiest way (especially for people in apartments or smaller homes) is to research local compost sites. If there's one near you (gardening centers, schools, and parks often have them), you can keep your compostables in a bin (look for one with charcoal or another odor-fighting filter to avoid any smells) at home and bring them to the compost site regularly.

To reduce plastics, start with small, manageable things. Carry a reusable grocery bag with you at all times; try to buy products with cardboard or glass packaging. Consider looking into a zero waste grocery store to really kick off your zero waste journey. And pay attention: Once you start noticing how much plastic you use in your life, you can start finding simple replacements that work for you.

Look into mail-in services! Terracycle offers zero waste boxes you can fill up and ship back to recycle the items inside appropriately. You can also suggest making a semi-regular trip to the local recycling plant together: They'll have places to sort recyclables, and you could make it enticing by planning a group meal out after. Every little bit helps!

Pizza boxes! If they're greasy, they can't be recycled. Cut the greasy parts off, recycle the rest, or try composting them if possible.

Not totally! A quick rinse should be enough to eliminate anything that might mess with the recycling equipment. Just be sure large chunks are gone and that the item is mostly clean. Rinsing recyclable food containers will also help ensure your recycling bin doesn't smell or get any unwelcome bugs.

Try reusing or upcycling them! They can be used as cleaning rags, painting tarps, pet bedding, and more. Crafty types can turn them into costumes and play clothes for kids. Or consider donating them to a local animal shelter—many accept clean bedding to help line crates for the animals. (Double-check with your local shelter before donating.) Or check with your local recycling service to see if they accept textiles to recycle into stuffing, upholstery, or insulation.

Check what the tube is made of first; toothpaste tubes made of aluminum are recyclable, but plastic ones are not.

In many cities, aluminum foil is also recyclable! (Check with your local recycling processing center to make sure it is in yours.) Clean it first, though—it might need a rinse, but it can go with aluminum beer and soda cans in the recycling.

If you're willing, you can look for surrounding services or centers that will take glass and commit to making the trip every few weeks to recycle your glass responsibly. Some services also offer mail-in service! Try to avoid plastics, if possible; think about reusing your glass containers instead.