The Clovernook Center’s recyclable and biodegradable paper cups came into the spotlight again this week by being chosen for the Democratic National Convention.  The Clovernook Center is a local 105 year old non-profit organization dedicated to a high quality of life for people with visual impairments.  This Enquirer article mentions a few other customers that the Clovernook Center has landed with their inventive product.

This is great news because it shows that the cups are filling a need as companies, people, and events across the country work to be more environmentally conscious.  Need more proof that green business is good business?

Quote from the enquirer article:

New interest in green products will help propel Clovernook’s cup business from about $500,000 in sales last year to roughly $1 million this year, Usalis said, making the cups one of the highest-growth business segments for the center.

Keep this in mind when your business makes product development plans or your entrepreneurial spirit kicks in!

The latest numbers are in for Hamilton County recycling, and the news is good.  Recycling in the first quarter of 2008 is up 10% from 1 year ago. Kudos to Mt. Healthy residents for increasing their recycling a massive 77% higher than in the first quarter of 2007!

The facts:
From an Enquirer article

A total of 17,274 tons of materials were recycled between Jan. 1 and June 30. That’s compared to 15,676 tons for that period last year and 16,380 tons in 2006. The most common item people recycle is paper, followed by cans and plastic bottles.

Outreach and advertising efforts from Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services have raised awareness, and participation is following.  Great work to everyone out there using their bins and passing on the message about recycling!

There is a lot of paper in our lives; way beyond office paper, junk mail, and magazines.  Here are a few more answers to help you get the right mixed paper into your recycling bin.

Question: Can sticky papers like post-it notes be recycled?
Answer: Yes

Question: Can restroom and kitchen paper towels that have been used to dry hands and counters be recycled?
Answer: No. There is bio residue and grease (similar to the case with pizza boxes) left behind that contaminates the paper so it cannot be recycled.

Question: Can I recycle shiny papers like receipts, movie tickets, and coupons?
Answer: Yes! These are all considered mixed paper and are indeed recyclable.  Even if you choose to shred your receipts, you can recycle the paper shreds.

Question: Can I recycle paperback books?
Answer: No.  Rumpke cannot accept these, but you can donate them to the public library or take them to a Half Price Books store for resale.

Question: Can wrapping paper be recycled if you get all the tape off?
Answer: Rumpke’s manufacturers will only allow a very small percentage of wrapping paper in a bale, and if there is too much it will not be accepted. At this time, Rumpke advises against adding wrapping paper to your recycling. However, back in the day, my grandma collected wrapping paper at holidays, trimmed the edges, ironed it on the lowest possible heat, and reused it. I hear it also makes great book covers for text books.

Thanks to Amanda Pratt of Rumpke for the facts!

Some things that seem like they are recyclable are actually not accepted in Cincinnati.

Question: Are dishes, mirrors and window glasses accepted?
Answer: The single stream sorting technology employed to sort recyclables cannot sort these items. Also, the type of glass used to make these items is not useful to the manufacturers using the glass Rumpke Recycling processes.

Question: Can I recycle small metallic things like staples, paper clips, and wire hangers?
Answer: No. Staples still need to go in the garbage with your paper clips. Remember to reuse those paper clips as many times as you possibly can before trashing them. I always like to give my mutilated paperclips a final goodbye by sculpting them into mini-modern art. Wire hangers from the dry cleaner can be returned to your dry cleaner and reused. There are also many clever ideas to turn wire hangers into things to use around the house like funky book shelves.

When you can’t recycle, reuse!  Get creative and craft gifts for all your friends and family out of your used hangers and mirrors.  Save the good stuff for your next yard sale or give it away on Freecycle!

As we mentioned yesterday, most paper materials you recieve in the mail are recyclable.  Here are a few more questions about postal items and whether they can find a new life in your recycling bin.

Question: Can bubble envelopes for mailing be recycled?
Answer: No. The paper outside cannot be separated from the plastic bubble wrap inside and the mixture is contaminated.

Question: Can I recycle Tyvek-type mailing envelopes?
Answer: Yes.

Question: What about stickers or sheets of address labels?
Answer: No. Sticky labels cannot be recycled because there is too much adhesive involved.  When I recieve an excess of address labels in the mail from organizations, I cut off my address and give the sticker squares with pictures or designs on them to my nieces.

Question: When I recycle my cardboard and boxes, do I need to get all the labels off?
Answer: If you are recycling corrugated cardboard, you do not need to remove labels. They will disintegrate in the recycling process.

Thanks again to Amanda Pratt and Rumpke for the facts!

Need a bin?  Check out details on how to get a recycling bin.

Have a bin?  Keep filling those bins with boxes and your other recyclables, the Mayor is counting on us for his recycling challenge!

Most paper you deal with on a day to day basis is recyclable in Cincinnati.  Feel free to drop white paper, colored paper and newspaper in your bin.  But what about other papers?

Question: Can I recycle junk mail and envelopes with see through windows?
Answer: Yes! All junk mail can be recycled including envelopes with windows.

Question: Can I recycle catalogs and magazines?  What about the staples?
Answer: Yes!  All catalogs and magazines can be recycled, even with staples in the binding.

Question: Can I recycle a phone book?
Answer: Yes!  Drop these in your Rumpke bins and they will be recycled.

Thanks again to Amanda Pratt at Rumpke for the facts.

If you weren’t already including all these things in your curbside recycling bins and drop-off points, now you can!  Remember whenever possible, remove yourself from mailing lists and use the backside of your paper for notes and grocery lists.  Then, clean up the counter and fill your recycling container with paper, paper, paper!!!

If something that enters your recycling bin is not recyclable (plastic bags or hangers for example), the entire load is considered contaminated and treated as trash. Ever wonder whether labels on canned goods or plastic rings left behind on the neck of a 2-liter bottle would contaminate the recycling?

Question: Do I need to remove the labels from my cans and jars before they go into the recycling bin?

Answer: Labels do not require removal, they disintegrate in the recycling process.

Question: What about the plastic rings left behind on the neck of my 2-liter bottle when I throw away the cap?

Answer: Lids should be removed from plastic bottles, but the rings can stay on, they are so small they are melted away in the recycling process.

Keep your recycling from becoming contaminated, remove all lids and caps from the cans and bottles.

Thanks to Amanda Pratt of Rumpke for the facts!

Have you ever wondered what you can and can’t recycle? Some things are obvious like bottles and cans, but there are a few grey areas that we all wonder about.

In the Greater Cincinnati area, Rumpke provides residential and commercial recycling services. We recently had the chance to speak with Amanda Pratt, corporate communication manager with Rumpke Consolidated Companies. With input from Amanda and tips from RumpkeRecycling.com, Live Green Cincinnati is able to shine some light on those local recycling grey areas.

Question: Can I recycle a pizza box?

Answer: No. Pizza boxes cannot be recycled because the grease contaminates the cardboard making it unusable in the manufacturing process. Unfortunately you need to direct your pizza boxes to the garbage can. Better yet, take the box out of the equation and eat in at a restaurant for your next pizza craving.

Stay tuned for more recycling tips over the next few days!

We’ve previously discussed how to be environmentally conscious during the summer festival season.

However, did you know that you can borrow recycling containers for your next event?  There is a stock of 5-foot, bottle-shaped containers specifically for event recycling available to loan for any organization sponsoring an event in Hamilton County.  They provide the containers and liner bags, you provide the recyclables.

Find out more at the Hamilton County recycling container loan program website.