Taking out the TRASH (and compost, and yard waste, and toxic stuff...)

Green Living: Bottle up those metal caps for recycling

There are two ways to recycle small metal caps off of glass bottles. The first way — recycling them in the bin on their own—is acceptable, though 100 percent recovery is impossible due to their tiny size and chance of getting lost in the shuffle.

For super recyclers who want to go the extra mile, here is another way to get them recycled.

Save a steel can: Set aside a steel or “tin” can you would recycle anyway. Steel cans typically hold things like canned vegetables and fruits, soups, tuna fish, and pet food. Rinse the can clean, as you normally would.

Remove the lid: Remove the lid entirely with a can opener and place it in the bottom of the can, lying flat.

Add caps: Use the can to collect your bottle caps. Caps on glass jars are almost always steel, just like the can you’ll be collecting them in. If you have a lightweight, chunkier, screw-on cap (e.g. olive oil), this is aluminum and should just go in the recycle bin separately.

Seal: Once the can is one-third to one-half full, it’s time to seal the deal. The easiest way to do this is to pinch the can shut with pliers. Simply squeeze the can together at three points, curling the top slightly downward. Tip and shake the can to make sure it is sealed adequately.

Recycle: Voila! Now you’ve created a vessel that will give all your steel bottle caps a ride through the Materials Recycling Facility.

Check out these fun videos on how to use the county yard waste sites and to compost in your backyard. This summer the county will be working on more videos to share, including how to use the new organics recycling drop-off program and how to recycle at apartments.

In the meantime, here is a how-to video on using the county household hazardous waste program
AND yard waste"how-to" videos, which can be found on the county Yard Waste web page or You Tube channel, under Public Health.