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Recycling is way less resource-intensive than producing new materials, especially with metal, so recycle everything you can.

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home ›   tip library ›   Metal Recycling

Can you recycle used braces?

The Bite

Ask your dentist (seriously, sometimes they can reuse the brackets). Keep reading for other metal items you probably thought you couldn't recycle, but can - metal-mouth or not.

The Benefits

  • Easier than remembering to put in your retainer. In many places, you can chuck your metal items in your curbside recycling bin.
  • Less energy use. According to the EPA, 75% of trash can be recycled, but only 25% actually is, and metal recycling results in 74% less energy use.
  • Less mine waste. Metal recycling creates 97% less mine waste than producing virgin metal.

Personally Speaking

On April Fool's day one year, Jenifer's mom put a layer of foil on her PB&J.

Wanna Try?

  • Earth911 - enter your zip and the item you wanna recycle to find local recyclers.
  • Aerosol cans - most curbside programs will take them.
  • Aluminum foil - most curbside programs will take them.
  • Autos - donate them to nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity; it's tax-deductible.
  • Caps and lids - most curbside programs will take them if you separate them from the container.
  • Construction items (pipes, siding) - some curbside programs take them; if not, contact a building materials reuse organization.
  • Household items (appliances such as refrigerators, curtain rods, lawn chairs, pots, pans, tools) - some curbside programs will take them, but in most areas you have to drop them off at a recycling plant.
  • Paper clips - most curbside programs will take them if they are kept together (put them inside a small cardboard box you are recycling anyway).
  • Staples - hard to recycle, but note that you don't typically need to take them out when recycling paper.
  • Wire hangers - take them to your dry cleaner; some curbside recycling programs will take them.

Feb 11,2008


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Can Do Over

Today's tip is the second in a series of monthly recycling tips intended to help us all figure out the nitty-gritty details of certain types of recycling and to answer some common questions.

Compared to a lot of materials, things made of metal tend to have a lot more potential for creative reuse. I love that more and more nonprofs take used vehicle donations - the cars are sold at auction to licensed car dealers or recyclers, and the majority of the sale price goes into the nonprof's bank account. Recently, I donated my old, giant, metal Power Mac to my favorite local theater company - I got more space in my house and a $500 tax deduction, the theater got a badly needed boost to its sound system. And while I normally return my hangers to the dry cleaner, I ended up bringing a few to my ballet school's dressing room so that my fellow dancers wouldn't have to pile their coats on the floor. I also just turned my beautiful old red tea kettle (which I replaced with an electric one) into a pot for a homeless plant.

Anything's better than sending things to a landfill, but recycling factories obviously use up a lot of energy and recycling pickup trucks obviously consume a lot of fuel.

All redistribution takes is a bit of thoughtfulness and creativity.

-Jenifer Morgan...off to scratch my head over what to do with that sardine can...


Biter Comments...
City dwellers may find that leaving scrap metal in their alleys results in a rather efficient, but informal recycling coop. You leave the screen door. Metal scavengers scoop it up and redeem at the local reclamation plant. Not so reliable, but everybody wins.

Posted by: Leslie | February 11, 2008 at 08:58 AM

What about old shaving razors? I've been trying to find a place to recycle them for years, to no avail. I know the company called Recycline makes the plastic recyclable, but even they don't know what to do with the metal (I've asked). Any ideas? (Yes, I know waxing and other hair-removal methods are an alternative, but what to do with all the razors I already have...)

Posted by: Heather | February 11, 2008 at 10:13 AM

I guess Kermie was right, "It's not easy being green...". Recycling plants use a lot of energy; the trucks that pick up our recyclables to take them to the recycling plants take a lot of energy, and unfortunately, not every recyclable is recyclable everywhere. Compact fluorescent bulbs, although they use less energy, contain mercury. Supermarkets in this country are seemingly reluctant to stop using plastic bags so that we'd HAVE to bring our own reusable bags. Our beloved computers are chock full of poisonous heavy metals, etc. WHEW! Not easy being green indeed! One thing everyone can do, though, is start by using less-toxic household cleaners. Some of the best ones are baking soda, white vinegar, and isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Of course, there are commercial eco-friendly cleaners, too, like Simple Green.

Posted by: Linda | February 11, 2008 at 10:41 AM

Positive attract positive...Recycling attract a better future: point. Sure, it ain't easy being green BUT doing the following things are AND has got a positive lasting effect on the planet. Are you game? Turn off lights when not needed Recycle all what you can, and for the rest re used or give (see http://www.freecycle.org/ ) Be careful with water use Do full loads of laundry Buy at Thrift shops (it is like re using what you buy and often still you do find bargains and even collectables) Buy "as new" or "very good" condition wise for books, electronics, movies, music on, for example, Amazon.com Use natural/organic, local grown foods whenever you can Walk ans use public transport when you can and for car use, do a few things in one trip As for the rest: Remember ALL we do has got an effect so, we ain't finished then to question how to reduce energy usage BUT the winning way is, at least, to do that list. Then, from greener lights to reducing even replacing plastic bags, it IS on its way. For the rest, e mail supermarkets and tell'em what you want. WE have got the power. Look, for example, the "made in China" items and foods, which for quite a high number of items, the past two years, have been invading our markets because people did want cheap things regardless of how it is made: we now do find out that many of those goods have got some toxic products in it, and from Toys R Us to Traders Joe, people are boycotting the "made in China" products because they can see that the quality is not there now and it is made with dangerous ingredients/metals/chemicals (as well as the fact that the Chinese exploit their own people to do things cheap and are very polluted since 2007) WE HAVE THE POWER so, use it..choose wisely when you buy...

Posted by: Pascal Gillon BASc of infogatherer.com | February 13, 2008 at 09:22 AM

Ah, oui, by the way, it is TRADER JOE'S for the company that boycott Chinese goods. And, again, wise ethical decision...China...mmmmm..Supposed to have from Confucius to the Yin Yang theory and be so wise and they act like now likew uncareless nouveau riches...Oh, dear...from 2008 to 2012 they are going to have some huge waking up calls and the main one is: whoever (be it people or country) does abuse the environment and people to make goods for quick profits WILL go down hard...Nothing new under the sun there...

Posted by: Pascal Gillon BASc of infogatherer.com | February 13, 2008 at 09:33 AM

Wow, amazing tip. As it's a recycling tip it helps in other ways too. Great effort in posting this bite. http://www.shredexonline.com/

Posted by: David | July 20, 2008 at 08:24 AM

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