Recycling is using the material in something to make something else. Many items we may consider trash in our every day lives can be turned into new products and used again.The process begins when materials are collected and dropped off for recycling. Next, a manufacturer buys and uses those materials by making them into new products and places the product back into the retail market through our local stores. Then, as consumers we are asked to purchase those products made from the recycled materials.

 This is a cycle that can be repeated forever. Newspapers, paper, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles are just a few items that can be reprocessed into new products we buy and use. Your recycling question may be, what products becomes what? In some cases, the result will be exactly what you expect. For instance, glass becomes glass. However, there are some facts that may surprise you!

• Glass beverage containers can also be recycled and used to make roads, marbles, jewelry, decorative tiles, and surfboards. Glass is a product that can be used over and over.
• 5 PET (plastic soda bottles) can be converted into 1 XL tee shirt, 1 square foot of carpet, and made into enough fiber to fill a ski jacket. Polar Fleece was the first fabric created from recycled plastic bottles and many manufacturers of outdoor clothing and gear are putting such fabric to good use. Plastic containers can be turned into stuffing for pillows or even made into a dashboard for your automobile. Did you ever think that the water bottle you drink out of today could be the bathing suit you wear next summer?
• Steel and/or aluminum cans can be recycled into other steel and aluminum products, using 75% less energy than creating brand new materials. However, these products can also be used in new cars, bikes, appliances, and cookware.
• A child's piggy bank can be made from recycled plastic, money, and denim!
• A woman's handbag can be made from recycling pop tops from aluminum cans, old record albums, rubber tires, skateboards, movie billboards or candy wrappers.