1800recycle dot Com
Recycling glass, metal, and paper is pretty straightforward. However, when it comes to recycling plastic, things get pretty tricky. Not all products made from plastic can be recycled. Even if it can be recycled, the types of plastic each facility handles is different. In fact, of the total plastic used in the U.S, only 6.8 percent goes the recycling route.
Before sending your plastic in for recycling, make sure to do your research. If you send a recycling facility something they cannot handle, it may just end up in the trashcan.
1800recycle dot com recently came out with an iPhone (android) app called My Recycle List that can show you the closest locations for recycling specific plastic types, electronics, paper, glass, metal, etc. I immediately downloaded the free app from 1800recycle dot com and gave it a spin.
Once downloaded, I clicked on the icon and started the app. The first thing you need to do is to click on the options tab on the lower right corner. Here, you have the option to use GPS to track your current location. Or, if you would like, enter in your zip code.
Being located in Shanghai, I was curious to know if it could track me here. I set my location setting to GPS and waited (and waited). I was forever stuck on the setting location screen. I clicked the home button to exit and start over. Hey, I don’t blame 1800recycle dot come, who would have guessed someone from China would need this app.
I clicked the recycle icon again to restart the program. This time, I set the location to good ol’ 90210. Ok, it recognized it as Beverly Hills.
I returned to the Categories screen and clicked the plastic icon (which looks like a detergent bottle). Of the plastic types available for recycling, I picked Plastic #1 (PETE). The closest location for recycling PETE if you are in the 90210 zip code is Environmental Products Corp – Vons. The program shows 20 of the closest locations per search.
The program is pretty basic and easy to follow. I did my first search within minutes of opening the application for the first time. While I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the locations, I would say that My Recycle List by 1800recycle dot come is a very good and useful app.
You can get the app via itunes or download it here: 1800recycle.com