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    What Becomes of Your Recyclables

    By | Green – Fri, Jun 1, 2012 10:12 AM EDT

    Did you ever wonder where your recycled materials could end up next? We've got the answers.

    Glass
    A recycling superstar, glass retains its integrity when crushed and heated, meaning it can be reused indefinitely.

    What It Becomes: Most recycled glass is turned into new glass containers and bottles, but a small percentage is used to make items like jewelry and countertops. Make sure you degunk the insides and remove lids and bottle caps. (They can be tossed in the bin with your steel cans.)

    Plus: 25 Eco-Chic Ideas for Your Home

    Paper
    Recycled paper (staples removed, boxes flattened) is shredded and mixed with water to create pulp. That pulp is cleaned, mixed with additives, and pumped onto a moving screen that drains the water. The resulting sheet is pressed and heated.

    What It Becomes: Office paper and cardboard often get made into more paper and boxes, as well as tabletops and cutting boards. Glossy paper can become newsprint, paperboard, tissue, or stationery.

    Aluminum Cans
    Prep by rinsing out the insides and cleaning any residue off the outside.

    What It Becomes: Old cans are condensed, shredded, and crushed into potato chip-size pieces that are melted and blended with virgin aluminum to create new cans.

    Plus: 30 Easy Ways to Be More Green

    Steel Cans
    If your can opener creates sharp edges, leave lids partially attached and rinse out all contents.

    What It Becomes: The steel is melted down, poured into casters, and rolled into flat sheets, which might in turn be molded into more cans, or used for fire hydrants, bridges, or cars.

    Plus: 30 Vegetarian Recipes

    Rechargeable Batteries
    Found in phones, laptops, and digital cameras, these batteries might contain such toxic heavy metals as nickel, cadmium, lithium, and lead.

    What It Becomes: New batteries and various stainless-steel products

    Find out what becomes of other recycled materials.

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