Recycling is a confusing practice for most people, but who can blame them? China recently announced that it would not be accepting the majority of America's recyclables anymore including mixed paper - magazines, office paper, junk mail - and most plastics. After this news, it's obvious why people aren't sure whether they can - or should - recycle at all anymore! The good news is we can still recycle in the U.S., but it's important to follow these guidelines so you don't turn recyclable items into rubbish. 

Rule #1: Recycle clean, dry and empty containers. MRFs (Municipal Recycling Facilities) will not accept dirty materials or clean any items. Instead, they will cast the dirty materials aside to be thrown in a landfill. Worst of all, if a dirty item, such as a food-covered plastic container or glass jar, gets other recyclables dirty, they are all hauled to the landfill together! The best way to mitigate this is to rinse items before recycling or throw them in the trash if they can't be cleaned. 

Rule #2: Currently, plastics with resin codes 1 and 2 are the most valuable and recyclable plastics. Check locally for other numbers and follow local instructions. Look for the number in the center of the recycling symbol to see the resin code: 

Rule #3: Aluminum cans, steel cans and aluminum & steel aerosol cans are very valuable materials and are accepted at recycling centers. Just make sure they are empty and clean! 

Rule #4: Check with your local recycling plant to see if they accept glass bottles/jars and foils. There may be a designated drop-off in your area for these items. 

Rule #5: Plastic bags are not accepted at MRFs. In fact, they jam up equipment. Generally, recyclables tied up in a plastic bag will be thrown out. Have no fear, plastic bags are accepted at most grocery stores, so instead of throwing them out, drop them off to be recycled! 

Rule #6: The beverage industry is working hard to ensure all its plastic bottles are 100% recyclable. Just make sure that you empty your bottle before placing it in recycling, or it may not be accepted. 

If you follow these six rules, you can maximize the number of items that are recycled correctly and improve recycling practices in your community! Find out more at EveryBottleBack.com