Why Should You Buy Recycled?

By purchasing products made of recycled content you are helping to ensure a market for recycled items. The laws of supply and demand affect the recycling markets. If consumers do not purchase the items that are made of recycled content, they will not be able to compete with virgin products which are often subsidized, and therefore, there will not be a market for these products.

Pre-Consumer vs. Post-Consumer Products

Pre-Consumer products are those that are left over during the manufacturing process, such as paper scraps. These scraps do not ever make it to consumers. They enter the recycling loop directly following the manufacturing process.

Post-Consumer products are those that consumers have purchased and returned to a recycling drop-off center, store, or to their municipal curbside recycling program.

It is important to purchase products with the highest percentage of post-consumer content that you can find. By doing this, you are supporting the continued growth of recycling in the United States.

Another good idea is to purchase recycled products that you know you can recycle in local collection programs once you are finished with them. Not all programs accept all types of products, so it is wise to find out exactly which items your program collects, and then try to purchase recycled content products accordingly.

How Do You Know if a Product is Made of Recycled Content?

Read the label. Often times labels will say "this product made with XX% post-consumer content". In addition, many items have recycling symbols on them. However, these symbols can have different meanings. They can mean that a product is made of recycled content and/or is recyclable, or they can mean that the product is recyclable. Keep in mind that a product is only recyclable if you have an outlet to get rid of it. Many programs do not collect all of the items that other programs do. Following is a sample of the basic symbol that is used on product packages:

There are a lot of variations of this recycling symbol used on products. Sometimes it is displayed on a colored circular background, which usually means that it is made of recycled content. It is also sometimes displayed with pictures of certain recyclable products in the middle of it. For the most part, the verbage surrounding the symbol should give you an idea of whether or not it is made of recycled content. There are some items that usually are made of recycled content, even if it is not indicated on the container:

Aluminum Beverage Cans - approximately 50% recycled content

Glass Bottles & Jars - approximately 25% recycled content

"Tin" Steel Cans - approximately 25% recycled content

Plastic Bottles & Jugs - approximately 25% recycled content

Molded Pulp Containers - egg cartons, fruit trays & flower pots

Paperboard Boxes - cereal & cracker boxes

Are There Other Items that are made of Recycled Content?

Many companies make specialty items from recycled content. There are several companies that now produce plastic lumber, which is used for a variety of products including benches, signs, boardwalks and others. There are also companies that make playground equipment, pencils, plaques and awards, frisbees and even clothing from recycled products. The best way to find these companies is to search on-line for recycling companies or products.

America Recycles Day

November 15th of each year is designated nationally as America Recycles Day. The purpose of this day is to encourage recycling and buying recycled activities. Click on the Michigan Recycling Coalition's web site at michiganrecycles.org to learn about activities and efforts that are taking place within Michigan, or on the national web-site at www.americarecyclesday.com for information on the national campaign that is taking place and for tips on how you can become involved.

Contact info@calhouncrc.net for questions or comments about this website.
Last modified December 16, 2003