Reference Center

Recycling Information Center

Recycling, the processes of using waste materials to manufacture new products, is an essential component in living a greener, more environmentally responsible life. Recycling is important because waste that cannot break down organically will ultimately pollute our soils and our oceans. When waste accumulates in landfills, over time those landfills release harmful emissions that contribute to accelerated global warming. When waste is left in oceans, it disturbs the ecosystem of marine wildlife, reducing biodiversity and destroying habitats. Non-biodegradable waste can also make its way into waterways and pollute drinking water supplies.

However, recycling is only one of three critical eco-friendly practices you must follow in order to keep your carbon footprint as small as possible. Here are a few informational resources that can help you make sure you’re always recycling the right materials properly.

  • You can recycle your glass bottles and aluminum cans in your recycling receptacle, but where do you recycle batteries, used oil, or electronic waste? If you live in California and want to recycle your waste materials properly, visit the CalRecycle website to learn where the appropriate recycling centers are and what they will accept. https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/
  • Qualified California businesses can gain incentives, such as funding, tax credits, rebates, and help financing recycling equipment and infrastructure from the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. The California Business Incentives Gateway database provides state and local programs for business development, and the web page provides access to the documentation, forms, and contact information needed to apply for the different loans, funds, and grants. https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/business/incentives
  • GreeningDetroit.com is an online database for all of the information Detroit residents need to better appreciate Detroit’s many ecologically responsible public services and businesses, and also understand how to be an environmental advocate. Resources include education portals for kids, sustainable lifestyle tips, health and nutrition information, and business development support. https://www.greeningdetroit.com/
  • If you live in Pennsylvania and haven’t yet filed your state tax return, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue provides an online tool for filing and paying state taxes. The website also offers online resources for understanding state tax credits and incentives for business owners and homeowners. https://www.revenue.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx
  • Did you know that there are both federal and state-level incentives for recycling? Learn more about how recycling centers can take advantage of the different tax credits, exemptions, income tax credits for employees, and other benefits of owning and operating recycling centers. Get all of the information you need here. https://nationalutilisource.com/recycling-exemptions/
  • Have you ever wanted to learn all everything there is to know about the scrap recycling industry? Find it all in Scrap, a recycling industry trade magazine that provides the latest information about technological innovations within the industry, as well as important scrap recycling news from around the world. https://www.scrap.org/
  • Recycle Across America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of recycling, as well as the efforts of the packaging sector to continue to profit from increasing volumes of waste materials. You can find all kinds of valuable information about recycling programs and resources, including strategies for reusing materials, consuming less energy, and more. https://www.recycleacrossamerica.org/
  • TerraCycle is an organization whose mission is to make hard-to-recycle materials recyclable and transform them into useful products. Waste such as cigarette butts, art supplies, alkaline batteries, and chewing gum are among the most difficult to recycle, but TerraCycle offers recycling programs that turn challenging waste material into storage pallets, pouches, and boxes for multiple uses. https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/
  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is a waste-reducing mantra, and it’s also the name of a UK-based recycling advocacy website. This online magazine offers great information about how to modify your lifestyle so that following the reduce, reuse, recycle directive is second-nature. Learn about every technique for minimizing your consumption, from reducing food waste to finding new uses for an old film camera. http://www.reducereuserecycle.co.uk/index.php
  • If there’s a Woodward and a Bernstein of the waste and recycling sector, they’re definitely writing for Waste Dive, an investigative online journal dedicated to deep dives into all of the issues surrounding waste collection, recycling, landfills, regulations, public policy, and much more. https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/
  • href=”https://www.wastedive.com/” target=”_blank”>https://www.wastedive.com/

  • Discarded rubber tires create a poisonous environment for wildlife. They contaminate water and soil, and if they catch fire, they generate toxic smoke that pollutes the air for years. RecycledRubberFacts.org is an online informational resource dedicated to publishing the latest research, facts, statistics, trends, and news in the rubber recycling sector. Literally everything you ever need to know about recycled rubber can be found on this site. https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/
  • href=”https://www.recycledrubberfacts.org/” target=”_blank”>https://www.recycledrubberfacts.org/

  • Republic Services, one of the largest non-hazardous solid waste collection and processing companies in the U.S., offers this recycling informational website that provides material for educators and students about how to optimize recycling practices. Learn how and why recycling is critically important for the environment and public health. https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/
  • href=”https://recyclingsimplified.com/” target=”_blank”>https://recyclingsimplified.com/

  • Waste Management is a waste collection and recycling service that operates in 45 states. This service offers an abundance of services and solutions for the sustainable and ecologically friendly removal of waste products. If you are looking for an environmentally responsible waste pick up service for you home or business, check out this website. https://www.wm.com/us/en
  • If you’re interested in news about the different energy sectors, the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) offers an informational site providing the latest news, research publications, statistics, analysis, and projections about renewable energy sources and fossil fuels. The EIA gathers, studies, and publishes the latest energy research, incorporating the results into policy details. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=39472
  • The COVID-19 crisis caused a tremendous economic fallout across nearly every industry, including renewable energy – more than 600,000 jobs were lost in the first wave of the pandemic. This article from the Center for American Progress discusses the strategies Congress must employ to ensure the sector’s recovery and continue its upward ascent. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/reports/2020/05/28/485411/renewable-energy-tax-credits-case-refundability/
  • If you’re curious about timelines for qualifying for green energy benefits from the federal government, this paper from the Congressional Research Service discusses the renewable electricity production tax credit (PTC) that provides incentives to energy companies for renewable energy projects that are set to begin before December 31, 2020. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43453.pdf