How to keep your town healthy

Join Agent GoodGreen in his mission to protect healthy living by recycling and picking up litter in your town!

Make it your mission!

One thing that's true about humans -- we sure do make a lot of trash. Garbage, rubbish, junk. And most of it goes right into a town's huge garbage pile,  known as a landfill. But one thing that's also true - most of that trash can be used over again in a different way. That's called recycling! Wouldn't you like to help Agent GoodGreen in his mission to make our towns healthier by recycling? Yessiree!

Don't throw that away!

Think about your trash can at home. Is it full? Does it always seem like someone is taking out the trash and putting a new bag in the trash can? Does it fill up too fast? Maybe your family is throwing away things that shouldn't be thrown away. Things like plastic soda bottles, glass jars, soup cans, detergent bottles, cardboard, cereal boxes, newspapers, medicine bottles and toy packages. Those things take up a lot of space in a trash can (and at a landfill). If you have a new container at your house for these items, they could be recycled and used over again. It's a great way to take care of your town.

Check out the list at the bottom of the page for more information on what can be recycled.

Fill 'er up!

Some towns have trucks that come around to every house and take away the recycling items. Other towns have giant containers that you can dump your recycling items into. Whatever one you have, it's a great feeling to see your recycling container fill up instead of your trash can! Ask your parents about the best way for your family to start recycling today.

Litter bugs everyone!

When you and your family are at the park or at school or at the store or at just about any old place, you can always remember your mission to keep your town healthy. One way to do that is to pick up litter and trash that you see. Litter is ugly - it bugs Agent GoodGreen, and it probably bugs you too!

Be careful! Sometimes the litter you see is really dirty, or really smelly, or really dangerous. Make sure you let your parents know when you want to clean up an area. Why, you could even take some of that litter and put it into a recycling container. That's a double good for your town!

Recycling Guidelines:
With the help of your parents and these tips, you can become a recycling super-hero!

GLASS:
How to Recycle - Rinse, remove lids and separate by color.
Can Recycle - jars bottles that are clear, green or amber
Can't Recycle - light bulbs, dishes, pyrex, crystal

PAPER
How to Recycle - Keep clean and dry.
Can Recycle - newspapers, boxes, egg cartons, phone books, white office paper
Can't Recycle - Waxed, glued, plastic or foil coated

ALUMINUM:
How to Recycle - Rinse and crush.
Can Recycle - all aluminum cans, foil wrap, old windows, lawn furniture
Can't Recycle - n/a

STEEL:
How to Recycle - Rinse and Crush.
Can Recycle - steel (tin) food cans
Can't Recycle - larger steel items should be discussed with your local recycling company beforehand

PLASTICS:
How to Recycle - Rinse.
Can Recycle - All plastics with a recycle sign and number on it.
Can't Recycle - Check with your local recycler to find out which number plastics are accepted.