2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60614 t 773.755.5100 naturemuseum.org

Recycle or Trash?

Do you know what you can recycle and what you can’t? Try your hand at this sorting activity. Print out and cut the following items. Then sort them into three piles 1) Yes-Recycle It, 2) No-Trash It, 3) Different Situations.

Once you’ve sorted them, check out full list at the bottom for the answers. You might be surprised at what you can and can’t recycle!

Recycling Sort

YES - Recycle it! No - Trash it! Different Situations

• #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #7 • Glass bottle • Juice box, milk cartons

(tetrapaks) • Metal caps • Lean cuisine • Non-rechargeable batteries • Envelopes with plastic

window (plastic will float to the top when paper is made into a pulp)

• Pop bottles • Plastic bottle caps • Magazines • Newspapers • Post-it notes • Pizza boxes - TOP only! • Toilet paper cardboard roll • Cardboard boxes • Aluminum foil • Aluminum cans • Metal bottle caps • Paper

• #6 - city cannot make $ or

new products from these • Broken glass - safety

reasons for recycling handlers

• Plastic tub - because it’s not an everyday item

• Nalgene (hard plastic) water bottle - because it’s not an everyday item

• Straw • Plastic film on Lean Cuisine • Starbucks cup and lid (unless

it’s a recyclable plastic) • Paper towels, napkins • Plastic forks • Stuff with the “recycling”

symbol but NO number (means it is made of recycled materials)

• Styrofoam • Plastic Zip-Lock bags • Pizza box - Trash the bottom

part

• Rechargeable batteries (take

to the Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility)

• Plastic grocery bags (back to the store)

• Produce bags from grocer • Wire hangers - take to a dry

cleaners • Light bulbs - (take to Home

Depot, Office Supply Stores) • Ink cartridges – take to office

supply store