Title: Recycling Facts, History & Quizzes | Mental Floss
Open Graph Title: Recycling Facts, History & Quizzes | Mental Floss
X Title: Recycling Facts, History & Quizzes | Mental Floss
Description: Discover fun recycling facts, trivia, and surprising stories on Mental Floss—content that entertains, educates, and satisfies your curiosity.
Open Graph Description: Discover fun recycling facts, trivia, and surprising stories on Mental Floss—content that entertains, educates, and satisfies your curiosity.
X Description: Discover fun recycling facts, trivia, and surprising stories on Mental Floss—content that entertains, educates, and satisfies your curiosity.
Opengraph URL: https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/recycling
Domain: www.mentalfloss.com
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{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/holidays/christmas/5-environmentally-smart-ways-dispose-your-christmas-tree","headline":"6 Eco-Friendly Ways to Dispose of Your Christmas Tree","description":"When it’s time to say goodbye to this year’s Christmas tree, don’t just dump it in the trash. Try one of these eco-friendly methods instead.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"D.J. MacLennan"},"datePublished":"2018-12-27T14:00:00Z","dateModified":"2025-12-22T17:39:56Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/holidays/christmas/5-environmentally-smart-ways-dispose-your-christmas-tree"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/recycling/how-to-dispose-of-e-cigarettes","headline":"The Right Way to Safely Dispose of E-Cigarettes","description":"Tossing old vapes in the trash could actually be more hazardous than you thought, but here's the right way to safely get rid of old e-cigarettes. ","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Rudie Obias"},"datePublished":"2025-05-29T22:05:58Z","dateModified":"2025-05-29T22:05:58Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/recycling/how-to-dispose-of-e-cigarettes"}}
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{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/food/use-kitty-litter-to-dispose-of-cooking-oil","headline":"How to Use Kitty Litter to Dispose of Old Cooking Oil","description":"You may already know not to pour cooking oil down the sink, but properly disposing of it in the trash presents its own challenges.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"CaLea Johnson"},"datePublished":"2025-01-30T19:01:00Z","dateModified":"2025-01-30T19:01:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/food/use-kitty-litter-to-dispose-of-cooking-oil"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/home/earn-money-for-organizing-your-kitchen","headline":"You Can Earn $1500 For Organizing Your Kitchen","description":"If you resolved to organize your kitchen in 2025, this contest is pretty good motivation.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"CaLea Johnson"},"datePublished":"2025-01-17T16:01:00Z","dateModified":"2025-01-17T16:01:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/home/earn-money-for-organizing-your-kitchen"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/design/why-prescription-bottles-are-orange","headline":"Why Do Prescription Pills Come in Orange Bottles?","description":"Those orange bottles are no accident—they were specifically designed to keep both medications and people safe.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Marla Mackoul"},"datePublished":"2024-06-18T14:03:00Z","dateModified":"2024-06-18T14:03:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/design/why-prescription-bottles-are-orange"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/geography/states/why-are-michigans-bottle-deposits-so-high","headline":"Why Are Michigan’s Bottle Deposits So High?","description":"Michigan maintains one of the most successful bottle return programs in America.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Ethan Trex"},"datePublished":"2011-03-27T19:11:03Z","dateModified":"2024-04-09T13:19:51Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/geography/states/why-are-michigans-bottle-deposits-so-high"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/food/coffee/how-to-use-recycled-cups-starbucks-drive-thru-mobile-orders","headline":"How to Use Your Own Cup for Starbucks Drive-Thru and Mobile Orders","description":"You no longer have to order at the Starbucks counter in order to use your own cup.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"mentalfloss .com"},"datePublished":"2024-01-09T15:59:00Z","dateModified":"2024-01-09T15:59:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/food/coffee/how-to-use-recycled-cups-starbucks-drive-thru-mobile-orders"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/holidays/christmas/best-time-to-buy-christmas-trees","headline":"The Best Time to Buy a Christmas Tree","description":"Technically, the most cost-efficient time is December 26. But your kids probably won't like that.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jake Rossen"},"datePublished":"2023-10-09T17:00:00Z","dateModified":"2023-10-09T17:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/holidays/christmas/best-time-to-buy-christmas-trees"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/food/beer/epic-onewater-brew-recycled-wastewater-beer","headline":"Waste Not: This Beer Is Made From Recycled Shower Water","description":"Who wants to buy a round of wastewater brews for the gang?","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jake Rossen"},"datePublished":"2023-08-07T15:55:09Z","dateModified":"2023-08-07T15:55:09Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/food/beer/epic-onewater-brew-recycled-wastewater-beer"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/science/environment/how-long-for-plastic-bag-to-decompose","headline":"How Long Does It Really Take for a Plastic Bag to Decompose?","description":"Technically, they really don't. ","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jake Rossen"},"datePublished":"2023-07-14T13:00:01Z","dateModified":"2023-07-14T13:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/science/environment/how-long-for-plastic-bag-to-decompose"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/science/environment/concrete-house-built-recycled-diapers","headline":"Big Poo-Tential: Researchers in Japan Built a House Using Old Diapers","description":"Civil engineer Siswanti Zuraida built a concrete structure using diapers that would otherwise sit in a landfill for decades, making for a literal brick sh-t house.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jake Rossen"},"datePublished":"2023-05-23T17:00:07Z","dateModified":"2023-05-23T17:00:07Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/science/environment/concrete-house-built-recycled-diapers"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/recycling/leave-cap-on-plastic-bottle-before-recycling","headline":"Why You Should Always Leave the Cap on a Plastic Bottle Before You Recycle It","description":"Many of us were taught to crush plastic bottles and leave the cap off. As it turns out, that isn't such an eco-friendly approach.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Emily Petsko"},"datePublished":"2019-03-05T03:00:00Z","dateModified":"2023-03-29T16:44:49Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/recycling/leave-cap-on-plastic-bottle-before-recycling"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/smart-shopping/amazon-second-chance-page","headline":"This Hidden Amazon Page Makes It Easier to Fix, Recycle, or Trade in Your Old Tech Gadgets","description":"The Amazon Second Chance hub helps take the guesswork out of recycling, fixing, or trading in old tech products. ","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Tobias Wartime"},"datePublished":"2023-02-14T20:00:28Z","dateModified":"2023-02-14T20:00:28Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/smart-shopping/amazon-second-chance-page"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/smart-shopping/lomi-composter-review","headline":"We Tried It: Is the Lomi Countertop Composter Worth the Investment?","description":"Is the Lomi countertop composter truly a fast and easy way to get rid of food waste? Here's what happened when we tested it. ","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Carrie Bell"},"datePublished":"2022-12-30T21:30:06Z","dateModified":"2022-12-30T21:30:06Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/smart-shopping/lomi-composter-review"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/recycling/eco-friendly-reprisal-kayak-recycled-plastic","headline":"This Eco-Friendly Kayak Is Made From More Than 60 Pounds of Recycled Plastic","description":"There’s not much crossover between the lists of best kayaks and eco-friendly products. Osiris Outdoor is trying to change that.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Ellen Gutoskey"},"datePublished":"2022-05-27T13:30:00Z","dateModified":"2022-05-27T13:30:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/recycling/eco-friendly-reprisal-kayak-recycled-plastic"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/invertebrates/octopus-recycle-ocean-trash","headline":"Octopuses Are Recycling Bottles and Cans for Shelter","description":"A new study found that octopuses are repurposing marine litter to create protective shelters for themselves.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jake Rossen"},"datePublished":"2022-03-18T21:00:00Z","dateModified":"2022-03-19T04:58:45Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/invertebrates/octopus-recycle-ocean-trash"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/science/environment/recycled-poop-uses","headline":"5 Surprising Uses for Recycled Poop","description":"People usually want plenty of distance between themselves and their poop, but some engineers argue that all that waste is going to waste.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Lina Zeldovich"},"datePublished":"2022-03-01T12:00:00Z","dateModified":"2022-03-01T12:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/science/environment/recycled-poop-uses"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/food/pizza/can-you-recycle-pizza-boxes","headline":"What You Should Know About Recycling Empty Pizza Boxes","description":"Corrugated cardboard pizza boxes are made from recyclable material ... but that doesn't mean they can always be recycled. In other words: It's complicated.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Michele Debczak"},"datePublished":"2021-04-22T17:00:00Z","dateModified":"2021-04-22T17:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/food/pizza/can-you-recycle-pizza-boxes"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/dogs/smartwool-recycles-old-socks-into-dog-beds","headline":"Got Some Old Socks? A Colorado Company Wants to Turn Them Into Cozy Dog Beds","description":"Colorado-based Smartwool is trying to cut down on textile waste by accepting busted socks and recycling them into dog beds.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jake Rossen"},"datePublished":"2021-04-22T15:00:00Z","dateModified":"2021-04-22T15:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/dogs/smartwool-recycles-old-socks-into-dog-beds"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/recycling/heres-why-you-shouldnt-recycle-your-giant-cvs-receipts","headline":"Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Recycle Your Giant CVS Receipts","description":"You can blame that glossy finish, which comes from a mysterious, potentially harmful chemical called BPA.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Ellen Gutoskey"},"datePublished":"2021-04-02T09:30:00Z","dateModified":"2021-04-02T09:30:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/recycling/heres-why-you-shouldnt-recycle-your-giant-cvs-receipts"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/food/ikeas-free-cookbook-helps-you-cook-food-scraps","headline":"Make the Most of Your Food Scraps With IKEA’s Free New Cookbook","description":"IKEA is helping you cut down on food waste with 50 free chef-developed recipes for everything from banana peels to broccoli stems.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Ellen Gutoskey"},"datePublished":"2021-03-22T16:30:00Z","dateModified":"2021-03-22T16:30:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/food/ikeas-free-cookbook-helps-you-cook-food-scraps"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/recycling/vermont-passes-food-scraps-ban","headline":"Vermont Just Banned Residents From Throwing Food Scraps in the Trash","description":"The state has expanded its trash pick-up services to accommodate the new policy, but many residents are already composting pros.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Ellen Gutoskey"},"datePublished":"2020-07-07T16:30:00Z","dateModified":"2020-07-07T16:30:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/recycling/vermont-passes-food-scraps-ban"}}
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{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/money/how-much-gallon-gas-cost-year-born","headline":"How Much Did a Gallon of Gas Cost the Year You Were Born?","description":"Ever wondered how much a gallon of gas cost the year you were born? Take a nostalgic drive through historic fuel prices from the 1950s to today.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Nitya Rao"},"datePublished":"2026-09-19T00:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-09-19T00:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/money/how-much-gallon-gas-cost-year-born"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/money/how-much-house-cost-year-born","headline":"How Much Did a House Cost the Year You Were Born?","description":"From budget buys to sky-high prices, see how much the average home cost in your birth year.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Logan DeLoye"},"datePublished":"2026-09-14T20:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-09-14T20:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/money/how-much-house-cost-year-born"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/money/housing-prices-vs-salaries-1985-2025","headline":"How Housing Prices and Incomes Changed in the U.S. Between 1985 and 2025","description":"Over four decades, the data shows that median housing prices have risen more rapidly than median household annual incomes.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-09-04T14:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-09-04T14:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/money/housing-prices-vs-salaries-1985-2025"}}
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