But if you don't use that many items, don't worry about crushing or flattening because the recyclers will do it with specialized machinery. DO NOT crush glass bottles or jars. These are usually hand sorted at processing centers and crushed by machines. Buy items in containers that can be accepted by local recycling programs and centers. Another way to reduce household trash is by creating less trash in the first place, a process known as source reduction.
Some packaging made from recycled materials is marked with a recycling symbol.
If the inside of a box is gray, this means the box was made form recycled material. Buy items in the largest possible size because you'll use fewer containers this way. Avoid a disposable product when a reusable one will work just as well. Learn more about becoming an Environmental Shopper . Your county also may incinerate household trash as a part of its plan to reduce its municipal waste.