Recyclable claims on labels and advertising mean that the manufacturer or seller of the products has proof that the products can be collected and used again, or made into useful products. Such claims will be relevant to you only if these products are collected for recycling in your community, either through curbside pickup programs or drop-off programs. Contact your local recycling or solid waste officials for this information. Some businesses recycle products for you. For example, some manufacturers of toner cartridges for computer printers allow consumers to return their empty cartridges to the dealer or mail them back to the manufacturer for reuse.
Many grocery stores take back their plastic grocery bags.
Check to be sure that the recycling program accepts the exact kind of product or package you want to recycle before you place it in the bin. Degradable Products Don't Help Save Landfill Space. Either way, however, degradation of any material occurs very slowly in landfills, where most garbage is taken. This is because the law requires that modern landfills be designed to keep sunlight, air and moisture out of the landfill. This helps prevent pollutants from the garbage from entering the air and drinking water, but also slows decomposition.