There are two common household ‘waste’ items that you likely put in the recycling bin without thinking about it.
The first is egg cartons. Did you know that the Edmonton Food Bank accepts gently used egg cartons to be reused to redistribute bulk eggs to families in need? We participate in the Heritage Chicken program at the University of Alberta, and conveniently for us, they have a donation box for used egg cartons that we use every time we pick up a new carton of eggs.
The second is the newer durable plastic rings used for beer and other alcoholic beverages that come in cans. These are typically super sturdy and can be reused over and over again. Many local breweries and sometimes even liquor stores accept them back for reuse. Check with your local brewery to see if they will accept your collection of plastic rings. If they don’t already, encourage them to start a ‘take back’ program. It’ll save the cost of new plastic rings and keep that plastic out of the recycling or landfill streams.
While recycling is better than putting an item directly in the garbage, it should still always be your third option, after REDUCE and REUSE. Always opt to reuse an item before it is recycled and reduce your impact wherever you can.
YEG Trash Talk 