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Recycle Guide

Recyclers in East Chicago, we need your help!

In order to handle more products, they need properly prepared items.
These guidelines will keep your materials clean and free of contamination.

Aluminum Cans Crushed or Uncrushed
Empty and rinse the cans.

Glass Bottles & Jars Clear, brown and green beverage bottles and food jars
Remove lids and rinse.
Do not include plate glass, ceramics, light bulbs, drinking glasses or ovenware.

Newspapers We accept newspapers and the inserts that come
in the paper
Magazines and phone books must be kept out.

Plastics Look for the recycle symbol with a number on the bottom
of the recyclable consumer liquid bottles
We accept plastic bottles with the
number 1(PETE)or 2 (HDPE).

Corrugated containers Corrugated boxes are the exterior packing cartons
Do not include chipboard such as cereal and food boxes.
Flatten all boxes.

Top Ten Things You Can Do to Make East Chicago
A Cleaner, Healthier Place to Live!

Buy food with less packaging.
Recycle paper and plastic.
Compost leaves and grass.
Go easy on paper products.
Recycle hazardous household items.
Use reusable food containers.
Plant a tree!
Eliminate unnecessary car trips.
Recycle glass and aluminum cans.
Remind Friends and Family to remember the three "R's"
Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!

ADMINISTERING YOUR "YARDWASTE"

All yard waste will be collected on your regular scheduled recycle day.

Residents must set their bagged grass clipping, leaves, weeds, plant
trimmings and small twigs (less than 6' long - ? "diameter) along the
front curb on your regular scheduled recycle day.

ALL YARDWASTE MUST BE KEPT SEPARATE FROM THE GARBAGE

Please place your yard waste in plastic or paper bags.

All yard waste must be placed on the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled
day.

REDUCE YOUR
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE

Household hazardous wastes are products that are no longer wanted or
useable.
They contain potentially harmful chemicals, need special handling and
disposal.
Look for signal words on labels, so you know what is hazardous.

RECYCLE USED OIL
WHAT CAN I DO?

Used oil from a single oil change can ruin a million gallons of fresh
water.
Used oil is a major source of oil pollution in our nation's waterways.

It's easy to recycle used oil.
Put your used oil in a clean plastic container with a
tight lid
- DO NOT MIX WITH ANYTHING ELSE-

Take it to a 10-minute oil change service station or others that collect
used oil for recycling.

For More Information, please call the Household Waste Organization at
1-800-946-4449.

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Why should I buy recycled?

Most East Chicago residents help the recycling effort by putting materials in their recycling bin or by taking their recyclables to a drop-off center. The next step to ensure that recycling really works is buy materials made with recycled content. When you purchase recycled-content products, you help increase the demand for recyclables. If consumers purchase more products with recycled content, manufacturers will continue to use recycled materials in their products and expand the usage to even more products. When usage is expanded the town can collect and sell even more recyclables. Every time a consumer buys a product made with recycled content, manufacturers become more willing to buy recyclables and expand the types of recyclables they will use in their products. This will increase the demand for different products, like plastic tubs that the Town does not currently recycle.

What does the recycling symbol mean when its on consumer products - does it mean the item is made from recycled materials or that the item can be recycled?

It may surprise you to know that the recycling logo doesn't necessarily mean either. Unfortunately, the use of the recycling logo is not regulated by law. If the label only says recycle or recyclable it may contain no recycled content. It also may not be possible to recycle that item in your area. The recycling symbol to the left is no indication of recycled content or recycling possibility.  

If you want to make sure you are buying a product made from recycled materials check the label for WORDS that indicate the product is made from recycled materials. One example is on the left. Seeing a logo doesn't really mean anything. When buying materials, we urge you to look for labels that indicate the highest percentage of post consumer recycled content.

What is the difference between post consumer and pre consumer recycled material?

Post consumer materials indicates the product was made with materials that were recycled by residents and businesses. Pre consumer recycled materials are made with industry scraps.

Buying Recycled Myths

Recycled Products are Inferior in Quality

This is simply not true. A 1996 survey by the Buy Recycled Business Alliance asked hundred of corporate purchasing agents about their satisfaction with recycled content products. 97% of the respondents indicated they were pleased with the results

Recycled products are hard to find

That used to be true, but thousands of products are now made with some recycled content. All steel made in the United States has recycled content. Most glass and aluminum does so as well. Many paper products, including white printer paper can be found with recycled content. Just remember to look for the post consumer percentage on the product. You can also find clothes, purses, tool boxes, and many other items made with recycled materials.

Recycled paper gets stuck in copiers and printers

Recycled paper, just like virgin paper comes in a wide variety of thickness and colors. It's possible to get recycled paper that looks and feels exactly like virgin paper. There is one that is bound to be right for your needs.

Recycled products cost more

This used to be true a few years ago but now many recycled products are priced competitively and in some cases may be even cheaper. Demand has lowered prices, and if you keep purchasing products made with recycled materials this trend will continue.