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Most people understand the importance of recycling, but did you know composting is also a great way to sustainably reduce waste? A lot of the waste you can’t recycle can go in your compost bin, so you can reduce your environmental footprint and enjoy the many benefits of composting.

If you’re not sure how to start composting, now is the perfect time to get started. Starting a compost pile is simple and affordable, and it’s a great way to kickstart your garden. If you’re ready to start composting in Long Beach, here’s everything you need to know.

What Is Composting?

Composting is the process of creating compost, which is made by breaking down organic materials like yard waste and food scraps. As these materials break down, they form a soil-like material called compost that’s rich in nutrients.

You can get started by making a compost bin or compost pile in your yard. You can add to your compost pile whenever you mow your lawn, trim your trees, or cook. It’s also important to keep your compost pile moist to feed the microorganisms that break down the waste.

Benefits of Composting

You’ve probably seen videos or heard people talk about composting, but many people are hesitant to get started. While there are a handful of obstacles when it comes to composting, the benefits outweigh the negatives. Let’s take a closer look at some of the biggest benefits of composting.

Reduce waste

Reducing waste in landfills is one of the best ways to promote a healthier environment. Many people throw their food waste out with the rest of their trash, but you can throw it in your compost pile instead. You can even compost leaves and grass so you don’t have to bag up and dispose of your yard waste. If you find yourself overfilling your curbside garbage bin each week, composting can help you create some space in your bins.

Create compost for gardening

One of the biggest benefits of composting is creating nutrient-rich compost for your garden. As the organic materials in your compost pile break down, they turn into a nutrient-rich material called compost that you can add to your garden. Adding compost to your garden adds nutrients to the soil, helps the soil retain moisture, and reduces the risk of erosion.

Reduce emissions

Most of the waste we add to landfills decomposes over time, which releases methane into the surrounding air. Adding waste to your compost pile instead of landfills is a great way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Compost also helps trap carbon in the soil, reducing emissions even more. Composting can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 50% compared to landfills, so each person composting in Long Beach has a significant impact on the environment.

Conserve water

Compost does an excellent job of retaining moisture that the plants in your garden need to survive. When you mix compost with the soil in your garden, that soil can retain moisture so the roots of your plants can absorb it. That means you don’t need to water your plants as often to keep them healthy and thriving, and your garden will thrive thanks to the added nutrients from the compost.

Minimize food waste

Food waste is one of the biggest problems facing our environment because growing food puts such a strain on the environment. From growing fields of corn and potatoes to raising livestock, all the food we eat requires a lot of water and energy to produce. The more food we waste, the more strain it puts on food production industries. Composting is a great way to make use of food you’re not going to eat. Even better, you can use that compost to enrich your garden and grow your own food.

How to Start Composting

If you’re ready to start composting in Long Beach, there are a few things to consider. You need to learn what’s compostable, start a compost pile or bin, and learn how to compost properly.

You can start by deciding whether you want a compost pile or a compost bin. You can build your own compost bin out of old pallets or wood scraps, but compost bins are also affordable. Alternatively, you can add food scraps and yard waste to a compost pile with no bin.

Once you have your compost bin or pile started, here are some things you can add to it:

• Food scraps
• Coffee grounds
• Tea bags
• Crushed egg shells
• Leaves
• Grass clippings
• Tree trimmings
• Old flowers

Composting Tips

Now that you know how to start composting, let’s take a look at some tips that can help you improve your composting setup.

Choose the right bin

If pests are attracted to the food scraps in your compost pile, pest-proof compost bins are an excellent solution. These bins are designed to keep rodents and other pests out of your compost bin, giving food scraps plenty of time to turn into compost.

Two parts brown, one part green

When you’re adding to your compost pile, you want to keep a ratio of two parts brown to one part green. Brown materials include dry leaves, paper and cardboard, and branches and twigs. Green materials include things like grass clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps, fresh yard waste, and food scraps.

Cut compostables into small pieces

Large chunks of compostables take longer to break down, so break everything down before adding it to your compost bin. Branches and twigs should be broken up, egg shells should be crushed, and cardboard and paper should be cut into small pieces.

Add water

Adding to your compost pile every day or two isn’t enough — you also need to water your compost. When you’re composting in Long Beach, it’s even more important to make sure you’re maintaining the ideal 40 – 60% moisture content for composting.

Start Your Composting Journey

Composting is one of the best ways to reduce your environmental footprint and enrich the soil in your garden. There’s a learning curve, but you can start composting without spending a fortune or taking any classes.

For everything that’s not compostable, Corridor Recycling is here to help. We accept CRV containers, electronics, scrap metal, and more. You can even get paid for your recycling. When you have recyclables you want to dispose of responsibly, contact us or visit Corridor Recycling in Long Beach.

The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year. Whether you’re cleaning up after Thanksgiving dinner or dealing with the mess from opening Christmas presents, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with waste.

Recycling is one of the best ways to reduce holiday waste and make your life easier this holiday season. Check out some of these holiday recycling tips you can use to keep your home clean and minimize waste during the holidays.

Preparing for the Holiday Season

Planning ahead is one of the best ways to make sure you’re ready for the holiday season. The best way to get ready for the holiday season is to clean your house and get rid of any unwanted clutter before Thanksgiving.

When it’s time to deal with the waste from Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll have room in your garbage and recycling bins. You can throw food waste in your compost bin, recyclables in your recycling bin, and everything else in your garbage bin.

This gives you plenty of time to clean everything up and prepare for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. If you can’t dispose of all your waste in a week, you can spread it out over a few curbside trash pickup days so it doesn’t pile up.

Christmas

Christmas is one of the biggest challenges when it comes to reducing holiday waste. From extravagant Christmas meals to the presents under the tree, your favorite Christmas activities result in a lot of leftover waste.

What’s recyclable at Christmas?

There are lots of items you can recycle to reduce holiday waste around Christmas, including:

• Cardboard boxes
• Most wrapping paper
• Plastic packaging
• Christmas trees
• Old electronics that are being replaced

Christmas recycling tips

Presents are the biggest focus when it comes to recycling during the Christmas season. In most cases, you can recycle everything but the present itself. Start by making sure you’re using recyclable wrapping paper — avoid foil or metallic paper. If you use bows or ribbons, throw them in the garbage before recycling wrapping paper and boxes.

You have a few options when it comes to your Christmas tree. You can cut your tree up and add it to your yard debris bin if you have a saw, or you can take it to a Christmas tree disposal location near you.

If you have a compost bin, you can throw your food waste in there to make sure you have enough room in your garbage bin.

Thanksgiving

Nothing beats gathering around the table with your family and enjoying Thanksgiving dinner, but you have a lot on your plate when it’s time to clean up. Following some basic sustainable holiday practices can help you reduce waste during Thanksgiving and make sure you’re prepared for Christmas.

What’s recyclable at Thanksgiving?

There aren’t quite as many items to recycle during Thanksgiving, but there are a few things you can recycle:

• Clean, uncoated paper plates
• Some plastic cups
• Aluminum, steel and tin cans
• Glass bottles
• Cardboard cartons for juice and milk

Thanksgiving recycling tips

Minimizing waste during Thanksgiving is all about keeping things clean as you go. When you’re using canned goods, place them by the sink so you can rinse them out when you get a chance. From canned corn and green beans to cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie spice, you can recycle all the cans you use during the holidays.

If you’re using plastic cups and paper plates, you may be able to recycle some of those items. Uncoated paper plates that aren’t soiled with food are recyclable, and certain types of plastic cups are recyclable. Check with your curbside recycling provider for specifics.

Composting is one of our favorite holiday recycling tips during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Starting a compost bin is affordable and easy, and composting helps you enrich the soil in your garden while minimizing food waste. You can compost most food waste during Thanksgiving, but you don’t want to add too much raw meat since it can attract pests.

New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the holiday season, but New Year’s parties can generate tons of garbage. Keeping a few sustainable holiday practices in mind can help you avoid the New Year’s Day mess.

What’s recyclable at New Year’s Eve?

If you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party, there are lots of items you can recycle to make more space in your garbage bin:

• Cardboard boxes and cardboard decorations
• Clean, uncoated paper plates
• Some plastic cups
• Glass bottles
• Cans and plastic bottles

New Year’s Eve recycling tips

Focusing on sustainability is one of the best things you can do when you’re planning a New Year’s party. While some plastic cups and paper plates are recyclable, others aren’t. If you’re going to use paper plates or plastic cups, make sure you can recycle them.

If you’re enjoying drinks for New Year’s Eve, those bottles or cans are usually recyclable. Glass bottles, plastic bottles and aluminum cans can go in your curbside recycling bin, or you can redeem CRV containers for cash.

You can set up recycling containers around your house to minimize waste from guests. Clearly mark each container to let people know where they can put their cans and bottles, paper and cardboard, and other waste.

Minimize Waste by Recycling This Holiday Season

Keeping your house clean can feel like a full-time job during the holidays, but it’s all about having a plan and following sustainable holiday practices. Whether you’re having the family over for Thanksgiving or hosting a New Year’s Eve party with dozens of guests, recycling is one of the best ways to reduce holiday waste and keep your home clean.

If you haven’t started recycling, now is the perfect time to start. You can sign up for curbside garbage and recycling pickup, or you can visit our Long Beach recycling center. Corridor Recycling makes your life easy by giving you a convenient place to take all your recyclable materials.

Want to learn more about how we can help you reduce holiday waste? Contact Corridor Waste or bring your holiday recyclables to our recycling center today.

Recycling is one of the best things we can do to protect our environment, but it’s a team effort. Getting your community interested in recycling helps reduce waste in nearby landfills and conserve crucial natural resources. If you want to make a difference, everyone needs to play a part.

Starting a recycling program can help you get everyone in your community involved. Educating community members and providing simple recycling options encourages everyone to do their part.

Learn more about how you can start a community recycling program that makes a difference in your community.

What Is a Recycling Program?

A recycling program is an initiative that encourages people to recycle by educating them and offering helpful recycling resources. Recycling programs can be a community-wide effort, but they’re also common in offices and other businesses.

Here are some of the ways recycling programs reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills:

• Educating people about what can be recycled and how to recycle
• Providing convenient recycling options, including curbside bins and recycling centers
• Helping people understand how their recycling effort affects the environment

The Long Beach recycling initiative is spearheaded by the city’s Environmental Services Bureau (ESB), and we’re dedicated to supporting that initiative.

What Makes Recycling Programs Work?

Starting a community recycling program isn’t as simple as asking your community to recycle. If you want to get everyone in your community involved, it’s important to simplify recycling with education and resources. Let’s look at what makes recycling programs successful.

Convenience

If you want to convince your community to recycle, you need to offer convenient recycling options. It’s not that people don’t want to recycle — it’s just that people aren’t always willing to expend a ton of effort on something new. When you provide convenient options like curbside recycling and clearly marked recycling bins in homes and businesses, everyone can get involved with minimal effort.

Our recycling center makes it easy to recycle everything from scrap metal to paper and plastic, and we offer our services free of charge. We also offer collection equipment that makes it even easier to recycle.

Community support

Whether you’re trying to clean up a local park or encourage your community to recycle, you need support from your community. If your community doesn’t support your recycling program, it’s going to be hard to get people involved.

Communicating with community leaders and members can help you design a recycling program that your community supports. You can iron out all the little details to make sure you’re creating a recycling program that works for everyone.

Persistence

It’s difficult to make a difference overnight, especially with recycling. You might not get everyone in your community involved on day one, but people will start to come around with enough time and encouragement. The more you educate your community about how easy it is to recycle, the more people you can get involved.

You can also try giving people an incentive to recycle. At Corridor Recycling, we pay you for your recycling so you can protect the planet while putting some extra cash in your pocket. As a community recycling program manager, you can partner with local businesses to offer gift cards and other benefits to people who participate in your program.

How to Start a Recycling Program

Are you ready to start a recycling program in your community? Check out this step-by-step walkthrough for starting a recycling program.

1. Perform an audit

Start by performing a waste audit to figure out how much and what type of waste you’re generating. You can send out a survey to community members asking them how many paper, plastic, cardboard, and metal recyclables they throw away on a weekly or monthly basis.

2. Find out what you can recycle

Once you’ve figured out what type of waste your community is generating, you can determine what’s recyclable and what’s not. Your community recycling program should target the recyclable materials your community generates most, whether that’s plastic containers or paper and cardboard.

3. Use designated recycling bins

Now that you know what you’re going to recycle, you can focus on providing convenient solutions for your community. Offer designated recycling bins for the various materials you’re recycling. You can set up free community recycling bins in parking lots and other frequently visited areas.

You can also help community members sign up and get started with curbside recycling to jumpstart your recycling initiative.

4. Educate

As simple as recycling seems, there are rules about what’s recyclable and what you have to do before recycling various items. Educate your community about emptying and rinsing liquid containers and removing non-recyclable materials from recyclable plastic and cardboard containers.

5. Monitor your recycling program

Now that your community recycling program is underway, monitor the results to see how many people are recycling. Analyzing your recycling program helps you figure out what you need to change to make it more efficient.

Getting Your Community Involved

Getting everyone involved in your community recycling program isn’t always easy. Here are some tips you can use to encourage your community to get involved:

• Offer discounts and other incentives to people who recycle
• Connect with local newspapers or stations to spread the word
• Make sure people have access to free public recycling bins

Keep in mind that some communities are naturally more receptive to recycling programs and green initiatives.

Simplify Recycling at Our Long Beach Recycling Center

Starting a community recycling program is a great way to get communities of all sizes to recycle and protect our natural resources. If you want to start a Long Beach recycling initiative in your neighborhood or at work, we’re here to help.

Corridor Recycling offers convenient recycling solutions. You can bring all your recyclables to our Long Beach recycling center, or we can get you set up with collection bins so your whole community can recycle.

Contact us to find out how we can help jumpstart your community recycling program.

Recycling has become a key part of our efforts to protect the environment, but there are a lot of misconceptions about how recycling works and whether it’s worth it. You’ve probably heard the myth that everything you recycle ends up in a landfill.

Want to know the truth about recycling? Read on to learn more about some of the most common recycling myths.

Myth #1: Recycling ends up landfills

This is one of the most common and harmful recycling myths. If you believe recycling ends up in the same landfills with garbage, what’s the point of separating recyclables?

The truth is that curbside recycling and garbage are collected by separate trucks, and those trucks have different destinations. The garbage truck takes household waste to a nearby landfill where it can be disposed of. Your recycling is hauled to a nearby recycling center where it can be processed and reused.

Recyclables end up in landfills because people throw them away instead of sorting and recycling them.

Myth #2: Any items with a recycling symbol are recyclable

In the early days of household recycling, people relied on the recycling symbol on packaging to determine what was recyclable. That symbol is still used to identify recyclables, but that doesn’t mean you can recycle any product with that symbol.

Recycling is different in different countries, states, cities and counties. Many items with the recycling symbol can’t be recycled in most places. If you’re not sure what you can and can’t recycle, check with your local recycling center or curbside pickup service.

If you recently signed up with a curbside recycling service or moved to a new city, check with your local recycling provider to figure out what’s recyclable and what’s not.

Myth #3: Recyclables need to be thoroughly washed

You’ve probably heard people mention that recyclable plastic jugs and glass bottles need to be thoroughly washed before recycling. While it’s true that contaminants like food and grease can render recycling useless, it’s not as big of a risk as it may seem.

Thoroughly washing your recyclables is a waste of water, and it’s not necessary. You should wipe away excess foods and liquids with a paper towel or washcloth, but that’s all you need to do to clean containers before you recycle them.

Conserving and reusing resources is important, but conserving our limited water supply is equally important.

Myth #4: Recycling doesn’t conserve energy

You’ve probably wondered if recycling is worth it in the long run; the short answer is yes. Recycling materials like plastic and metal uses significantly less energy than it takes to create plastic bottles or metal cans from raw materials.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration¹, using recycled aluminum cans to make new cans uses 95% less energy than using raw materials. Per Recycling Today², using recycled plastic reduces energy consumption by 79% for PET, 88% for HDPE and 8% for PP.

Myth #5: All lids are recyclable

From glass and plastic bottles to milk jugs, lots of recyclable containers have lids. You might be able to recycle water bottles with lids in your state or city, but the rules are different everywhere you go.

Check with your local recycling center to find out what they want you to do with plastic lids. Some recycling centers allow you to keep plastic bottles on plastic caps when you’re recycling, but plastic caps need to be removed from metal or glass containers.

Some facilities won’t recycle bottles with lids because they use a baler. The rules are different everywhere, so don’t assume you can recycle lids with all your containers.

Myth #6: Compostable items can be recycled

Compost and recycling are two separate things, and compostable items aren’t designed to be recycled. Compostable items are usually made from plant fibers and similar materials that aren’t recyclable. Some compostable items are recyclable, but you have to know what they’re made of and check with your local recycling center.

While this is one of the common recycling myths, using compostable plates can still help you reduce your environmental footprint. You can throw compostable items into your yard waste bin or put it in a compost bin in your yard.

Myth #7: Recyclables can only be recycled once

One of the most common recycling myths is that recyclable materials can only be recycled and reused once. While it’s true that there’s a limit to how many times an item can be recycled, most materials can be recycled more than once.
Plastic can usually be recycled two or three times before it’s not usable. Glass and metal can be recycled indefinitely, which is why recycling these materials is so important. Paper and cardboard can also be recycled several times.

Myth #8: Recycling is the same across the country

If there’s one recycling misconception that can make your life difficult, it’s this one. Recycling rules and regulations are different everywhere, so you have to learn what you can and can’t recycle when you move to a new city or state.

You may be able to find more information online about recycling in your city or state, but that info isn’t always accurate. The best thing you can do is contact your local recycling center or curbside pickup provider to learn more about what’s recyclable and where you can take your recycling.

Get Started With Corridor Recycling

These common recycling misconceptions can discourage people from recycling, but everybody can make a difference. By separating your household waste and recycling what you can, you can help conserve our limited resources and reduce the amount of energy it takes to manufacture products we rely on.

At Corridor Recycling, we make recycling easy. We accept everything from CRV containers to paper, cardboard and metal at our Long Beach recycling center. To make recycling even easier, we’ll help you unload everything and recycle it free of charge.

Now that you know the truth about recycling, it’s the perfect time to start doing your part to protect the planet.

With the population rapidly growing over the past several decades, the environment has become one of our primary concerns as a society. As we continue to use more of our natural resources and generate more waste, recycling becomes and even bigger key to protecting the environment.

Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t recycle regularly — and you might even be one of them. Not recycling leads to more waste in landfills, which negatively impacts the environment and takes up more of our unused land. Learn more about the environmental impact of not recycling and why you should do your part to protect the environment.

The Landfill Problem

The landfill problem is one of the biggest concerns when it comes to not recycling. As people continue to throw away recyclable household items, landfills across the country are filling up.

When one landfill is full, the only solution is to start dumping in another landfill. As a result, there are more than 3,000 active landfills in the US and an additional 10,000+ closed landfills.

Some of the stuff we dump in landfills degrades over time, so it’s not a huge problem. Unfortunately, materials like plastic aren’t biodegradable. Because of this, some of the garbage we’re putting in landfills stays there for hundreds if not thousands of years.

As the garbage in landfills decays, it releases greenhouse gases that damage the environment. Contaminants from landfills can also affect nearby groundwater and soil quality. This problem will continue to compound as the number of active and closed landfills increases.

The more you recycle, the less garbage you’re putting in landfills.

Natural Resources

There was a time when the planet was filled with natural resources because we hadn’t learned how to tap into them yet. Our smaller population also meant we could use these natural resources freely without worrying about them drying up completely.

As we’ve learned how to extract natural resources and use them for everything from smartphones to cars, the demand for those natural resources has grown and the supply has declined. This problem is compounded by the fact that the world’s population has more than doubled since 1974.

The high demand for natural resources has made recycling more important than ever. Instead of throwing away your old TV or computer, you can take it to an e-waste recycling center where some of the precious metals can be reclaimed. These precious metals can be used to make more electronic devices, which can eventually be recycled and reused again.

From precious metals to crude oil and even water, responsible use and reuse of natural resources is crucial.

Energy Use

You might not realize it, but recycling helps significantly reduce the amount of energy it takes to produce goods. Large-scale production requires a lot of energy — especially when you’re converting raw materials to a finished product.

When manufacturers can use recycled materials to create new products, it actually uses less energy than making those products from raw materials. Not only are you conserving the natural resources we rely on, but you’re also conserving energy by recycling.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recycling one ton of paper could:

• Save 7,000 gallons of water
• Save 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2,205 pounds
• Conserve enough energy to power a home for six months

Emissions

Because recycling helps reduce the amount of energy used in production, it also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Burning fossil fuels to generate energy increases emissions, and that’s a necessary part of the production process. With recycled materials, production requires less energy so there are fewer emissions.

Emissions aren’t just a problem during the production stage. Extracting or mining raw materials uses a lot of energy and results in significant emissions, but we don’t have to extract or mine those materials when we can reuse recycled materials.

As the population continues to grow and the demand for products increases, reducing emissions through recycling should be a top priority.

Loss of Biodiversity

Biodiversity might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about recycling, but it’s one of the biggest concerns. Everything we do that affects the environment — from the emissions we produce to the garbage we put in landfills — affects the delicate ecosystems across the country. As a result, ecosystems everywhere are changing and adapting to environmental stress.

A lack of biodiversity is a major concern because biodiversity plays a key role in nature. A diverse selection of plants, insects, bacteria, and wildlife helps create a balanced ecosystem that supports all forms of life. When we cause damage to these delicate ecosystems, we’re affecting the lives of everything that lives within them.

According to data from the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), biodiversity is a problem we’re already facing globally.

Negative Impacts on Wildlife

The wildlife around us plays a key role in our everyday lives. From birds and squirrels that act as nature’s gardeners to wild animals that we rely on as sources of food, everything plays an important role. As a lack of recycling leads to a decrease in biodiversity, we’re also seeing negative impacts on wildlife.

Ecosystems are delicate, with various organisms relying on each other for survival. Many smaller animals eat bugs or plants before serving as a food source for larger carnivorous animals. When our environmental impact wipes out certain types of insects or plants in an area, it can have devastating effects on the wildlife that relies on these lifeforms.

Not recycling has other negative impacts on wildlife too. Cats, raccoons, and other small animals can get their heads stuck inside metal cans. Fish and turtles can get trapped in the plastic ties that hold six packs together. If you’re not recycling, you’re putting wildlife at risk.

Human Health Risks

While our lack of recycling has a serious impact on the environment and the plants and animals it sustains, not recycling can also pose a risk to human health. For starters, the trash in landfills can release pollution and emissions. When we breathe in pollutants in the air, it can lead to coughing and other respiratory issues.

The trash filling up landfills can also affect the groundwater and soil quality. Soil does an excellent job of absorbing anything it comes into contact with, so throwing away electronics or dangerous chemicals can pollute the surrounding area.

The Big Picture

At the end of the day, not recycling has a long list of negative impacts on the environment — including humans and wildlife. As the population continues to grow and natural resources become more scarce, it’s becoming even more important to recycle.

Recycling programs and initiatives have made recycling more accessible for many people. At Corridor Recycling, we offer no-fee recycling for everything from plastic and paper to electronics and appliances. You can even get paid for recycling some materials.

• Related: How to Recycle Small Appliances (Explained)

If you haven’t started recycling, now is the time to start. You can check out our list of recyclable materials to learn more.

Reduce Your Environmental Footprint Through Recycling

Recycling is one of the easiest ways to reduce your impact on the environment. Separating your recycling only takes a minute, and you can even get paid for some materials.

At Corridor Recycling, we make recycling easy. We accept all recyclable materials, and you can get paid for scrap metal. We even offer collection and recycling solutions for businesses. If you want to do your part to protect the environment, contact us or visit our Long Beach recycling center today.

If you’re like the average American, you have electronics throughout your home. From smartphones and tablets to computers and smart TVs, modern electronics make life a lot easier. Unfortunately, throwing your old electronics in the trash can lead to serious environmental problems.

The good news is Corridor Recycling makes it easy to recycle electronics. Whether you’ve got an old TV you don’t use or a box full of old keyboards and mice, you can recycle them at our Long Beach recycling center. Check out this guide to learn everything you need to know about recycling electronics.

What Is E-Waste?

E-waste, or electronic waste, refers to any discarded electronic devices or electrical components. If you have an old flatscreen TV or a laptop you don’t use anymore, that’s considered e-waste. Other examples of e-waste include smartphones, computer accessories, VCRs, and DVD players.

Why is e-waste a problem?

E-waste might not seem like an immediate concern. In fact, you may have thrown electronic devices in the garbage in the past. Unfortunately, improperly disposing of e-waste can cause several environmental problems.

Firstly, e-waste is considered hazardous waste because it contains toxic materials. Some e-waste can also release toxic chemicals if handled improperly. That means the old electronic devices you throw away can cause significant harm to the environment.

There’s also the issue of our limited natural resources. Precious metals are used to make key components in electronic devices, and we have a limited supply of these metals. When you throw away old electronic devices instead of recycling them, you’re further limiting our supply of precious metals.

Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003

The Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 was enacted by California to combat the e-waste problem. This act established funding for the collection and recycling of e-waste, making it more convenient for Californians to dispose of e-waste responsibly.

Anything that’s covered under the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 should be recycled at an e-waste recycling center. Our Long Beach recycling center is a convenient option for Californians.

What Electronics Can I Recycle?

If you have old electronics lying around your house, you might be wondering what you can recycle. Most electronic devices are considered e-waste, which means you can recycle them for free at our Long Beach recycling center. We’ll take an in-depth look at some of the most commonly recycled electronics below.

Televisions and monitors

There was a time when televisions cost thousands of dollars and were rarely replaced. With more affordable TVs hitting the market each year, more consumers are starting to upgrade regularly. If you recently upgraded to a new TV and you don’t have room for your old one, you can recycle it at an e-waste recycling center.

Computer monitors are also becoming more affordable and widely used. Monitors are a popular choice for gaming, but technology quickly changes and regular upgrades are essential. When you upgrade to a new monitor, take your old monitor to a recycling center for proper disposal.

Remotes and accessories

Most of the accessories you use with your TV can also be recycled. Every TV comes with a remote, and they’re all recyclable. You can also recycle other accessories like sound bars, streaming devices, and cables. If you’re recycling an old TV, you may as well bring any unwanted accessories along for the ride.

Computers and computer peripherals

With the sharp increase in remote work and tech-focused jobs, computers are becoming an essential device for just about everyone. Unfortunately, many people are realizing that their old computers and laptops simply aren’t powerful enough to get the job done anymore. If you have an old computer or laptop — even if it runs slowly and has cosmetic damage — you can bring it to an e-waste recycling center.

You can also recycle all the peripherals that you might use with your PC. Here are some of the computer peripherals that are commonly recycled:

• Keyboards
• Mice
• Headphones
• Speakers
• Cables
• Dongles and receivers
• Outdated routers and modems

Cell phones and tablets

Smartphones have become a key part of the lives of people all over the world. Billions of people use smartphones globally, which has led to an increased demand for newer, more powerful devices. Every year or two, major smartphone manufacturers like Apple and Samsung release new smartphones that people line up for.

You can also recycle tablets at our e-waste recycling center. Whether you have a tablet that’s connected through a cellular provider or a simple tablet for home use, we can make sure the materials are put to good use.

VCRs and DVD players

VCRs and DVD players are considered relics today, but there are still plenty of these devices floating around. You can even find some new VCRs and DVD players still. If you have unwanted old devices, you can get rid of them at an e-waste recycling center.

With streaming services and devices, it’s easier than ever to ditch outdated technology and declutter your living room or home theater.

What Is Recycled E-Waste Used For?

When you bring your old electronic devices to our Long Beach recycling center, you might be wondering what happens to them. Let’s take a closer look at how the e-waste recycling process works.

First, we collect your old electronics at our recycling center. These electronics are sent to a certified electronics recycler who shreds and sorts them. Next, electronics undergo a dust extraction process to limit environmental degradation.

Magnetic separation is used to separate ferrous and non-ferrous metals, then water separation is used to separate glass and plastic components. Electronics undergo a final purification process before the precious metals and other elements are extracted.

These recycled materials are typically sold to other facilities for reuse.

Is There an E-Waste Recycling Fee?

If you’re new to e-waste recycling, you might be wondering how much it’s going to cost you. Lucky for you, you don’t have to pay a dime when you visit our Long Beach recycling center. We don’t charge any e-waste recycling fees, so you can dispose of all your old devices free of charge.

While we don’t charge a recycling fee, there is an e-waste recycling fee charged when you purchase certain electronics. These fees are used to fund e-waste recycling in California, so you’re simply taking advantage of the program you helped to fund when you recycle e-waste.

How to Recycle Your E-Waste

Recycling e-waste isn’t rocket science — especially when you visit Corridor Recycling. All you have to do is bring your unwanted electronic devices to us and we’ll take care of the rest. You can find a list of acceptable materials on our website. If you’re not sure if we can recycle your old electronic devices, feel free to contact us.

Get Rid of Unwanted Electronic Waste

Do you have unwanted e-waste taking up space in your home? Don’t throw it away — bring it to Corridor Recycling instead. Recycling e-waste helps us create a more sustainable future.

At Corridor Recycling, we make it easy to get rid of unwanted electronic devices. We’ll help you unload everything, and we recycle electronics at no cost to you. If you have any questions about getting started or what you can recycle, call us at (310) 835-9101 or visit our Long Beach recycling center.

As the population continues to grow, limited resources become a bigger concern. Recycling is one of the ways we can conserve and reuse the limited resources we have on Earth. Your recycling efforts help us protect the environment by sending less waste to landfills.

At Corridor Recycling, it’s our mission to make recycling easy. Our Long Beach recycling center makes it convenient to get rid of your recycling — and you can even get paid for some of it. Learn more about why recycling plays a key role in keeping Long Beach clean.

How Recycling Impacts the Environment

Everything you use on a daily basis is made from a limited natural resource. The resources we use to make plastic bottles, various types of metal, and electronics continue to deplete as the population grows and manufacturing increases.

Recycling allows us to reuse some of our natural resources to minimize our impact on the environment. Recycled metal can be used to make cans, car parts, window frames, and more. As the population continues to grow, recycling is a key part of making sure we have enough resources for the future.

What Materials Are Recyclable?

Lots of household items are recyclable, so watch what you throw away. Here are some of the materials we accept at Corridor Recycling.

Plastic

Plastic is one of the most commonly used materials — from plastic bottles and milk jugs to crates and plastic bags. Instead of throwing your plastic bags and bottles in the trash, bring them to us and we’ll recycle them for you. Recycle plastic can be used to make new plastic bottles, plastic strapping for shipping, and more.

Soda and water bottles are California Redemption Value (CRV) containers, which means you receive $0.05 for each small plastic bottle you return.

Metal

Metal isn’t just one of the most important materials today; it’s also one of the most recyclable. Steel is one of the most recycled materials in the world because it can easily be melted down and repurposed. If you’re throwing away an old grill or car part, it’s probably worth recycling instead.

Assorted metal recycling also includes CRV containers. Any canned beverage you pay a deposit on can be exchanged for $0.05 at our Long Beach recycling center.

Glass

While most brands have switched from glass bottles to plastic or metal containers, glass recycling is still essential. Glass can be recycled and converted into new glass bottles or jars, insulation, and other useful resources.

Like plastic and metal, some glass containers are also CRV containers. Smaller glass bottles can be redeemed for $0.05 and containers over 24 ounces can be redeemed for $0.10.

Paper

Recycling paper may seem insignificant, but paper recycling helps us cut down on emissions. Making new paper from trees requires a lot more energy than using recycled paper, so it’s better to recycle and reuse.

There are countless types of paper you can recycle at home and work. White printer paper and paper from notebooks can be recycled, as well as newspaper and colored office paper. If you have old phone books, magazines, or catalogs lying around, we can recycle those too.

Cardboard

Whether you work in a warehouse or frequently order from Amazon, cardboard can pile up quickly. Fortunately, you can get rid of all that cardboard and do your part to protect the environment when you recycle. The cardboard we recycle is used to make chipboard for cereal boxes, paper towels, and paper.

Cardboard piling up can be a big problem during the holidays. If you have a stack of cardboard boxes that can’t fit in your curbside recycling container, bring them to us and we’ll take care of them.

Electronic waste

Electronic waste is one of the biggest environmental problems because the resources we use to make electronics are extremely limited. Precious metals like copper, gold, silver, palladium, and platinum play an essential role in everything from smartphones to computers.

Instead of throwing your old electronics away, bring them to our Long Beach recycling center. Here are some of the electronics we accept:

• Cables
• Circuit boards
• Computers and monitors
• Laptops
• Mice and keyboards
• Smartphones
• Televisions
• Wires and plugs

How Does Recycling Work?

At Corridor Recycling, it’s our mission to make recycling simple. When you visit our Long Beach recycling center, all you have to do is load your recycling into your car or truck. We can unload everything for you and take care of the rest of the process.

We also offer recycling and collection equipment for businesses. Whether you need a baler and compactor or a 40-yard bin for recycling, we’ve got solutions that meet your needs.

We don’t offer any coupons at Corridor Recycling, but we’re happy to honor competitor’s coupons with current expiration dates.

Curbside recycling

Curbside recycling is a simple way to make sure you’re recycling as much as possible. Trash pickup companies charge you a relatively small fee to rent cans for your garbage and recycling. All you have to do is fill these containers up and wheel them out the curb each week before your trash pickup day.

One downside to curbside recycling is that it costs money and you don’t get paid for CRV containers and metal.

Can I Get Paid to Recycle?

You can get paid for certain types of recycling. If you drink bottled or canned beverages, you can bring your CRV containers to Corridor Recycling to get $0.05 for containers under 24 ounces and $0.10 for containers above 24 ounces. The money you make redeeming CRV containers can help pay for small expenses like gas and groceries.

Some recyclable materials are worth a lot — especially in large amounts. You can get paid to recycle various types of metal, including:

• Aluminum
• Brass
• Copper
• Steel

You can even get paid for bringing large amounts of paper or cardboard to a recycling center. If you have any questions about our rates or what materials we pay for, feel free to give us a call before you visit in person.

Recycling Myths

You’ve probably heard lots of myths about recycling and how it’s not as effective as it seems. Let’s take a look at some popular recycling myths and dispel them.

Myth #1: Recycled materials end up in the landfill

The recycling industry isn’t a myth — the materials we collect are recycled and reused. If recyclable materials were going to end up in the landfill anyway, there would be no separate bins and recycling centers wouldn’t pay you to recycle.

Myth #2: Recycling uses more resources than it saves

Energy and other resources are used in the recycling process, but recycling saves energy. For example, it takes significantly less energy to recycle aluminum cans instead of making cans from raw materials. That same principle applies to steel, paper, plastic, and glass.

Myth #3: One contaminant can ruin a load of recycling

We always recommend following guidelines when it comes to cleaning recyclable containers, but one contaminant won’t ruin the rest of the recycling we collect. It’s time-consuming, but we can remove contaminants and clean a load of recycling if we need to

Keep Your Community Clean With Corridor Recycling

We all play a key role in keeping our communities clean, and recycling is one of the many responsibilities we have. At Corridor Recycling, we make it easy to recycle — and get paid for your recycling — to help you do your part to protect the environment.

Contact us or visit our Long Beach recycling center to learn more about the benefits of recycling with us

If you’re looking for a chance to fill up your tank and hit the road in style, you’re in luck! Corridor Recycling is excited to announce our exclusive Gas Card and Car Giveaway. This is your opportunity to rev up your dreams and drive away with amazing prizes.

Every week, we’re giving away a $50 gas card to one lucky winner. To qualify for the weekly drawing, all you need to do is sell us any of the following:

• 500 lbs. of Cardboard
• 500 lbs. of Scrap Metal
• $75 worth of Aluminum or Copper
• $50 worth of Cans or PET Bottles

Each transaction will earn you a ticket, and the more you sell, the more chances you have to win! But that’s not all – all tickets will be entered into the grand prize drawing for a brand-new car, which will take place on December 2, 2024.

Imagine driving away in a fantastic new car, all while saving money on fuel with your $50 gas card. It’s a winning combination that could be yours! Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to fuel your dreams and enter our Gas Card and Car Giveaway today. Good luck!

Do you have old electronics that you want to get rid of? In the state of California, you have to recycle various types of electronics instead of throwing them away. Recycling helps reduce E-waste, and it allows manufacturers to reclaim some of the precious metals they use in electronics.

Corridor Recycling can help you take care of all your recycling — including electronics. We’ll make sure everything is recycled properly so you can clear out your clutter while protecting the environment. Learn more about E-waste and how you can recycle electronics with Corridor Recycling. 

What Is E-Waste?

E-waste — or electronic waste — refers to old electronics that are often thrown in the trash. Because electronics are often made with hazardous materials, electronic waste can be harmful to the environment and public health. Some of the hazardous materials found in E-waste include mercury and lead.

Electronics are also made of precious metals that are scarce in quantity, like silver and gold. Because these metals are in high demand and have a relatively low supply, E-waste recycling can be an effective way to conserve resources.

Why Is Recycling Electronics Important?

When you’re dealing with recyclable materials, it’s always important to dispose of them the right way. Recycling electronics is a great way to protect the environment and safeguard our supply of precious metals and other rare materials.

Several types of electronics contain harmful materials that need to be carefully disposed of. Larger electronics like computers and TVs are common candidates for recycling, but even smaller objects like batteries can impact the environment. Any old electronics should be taken to an E-waste recycling center so they can be properly disposed of.

Did you know that electronics also contain various types of precious metals? Computers and smartphones contain small amounts of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. When you throw these devices away, those materials end up in a landfill. By recycling, you can make sure these precious metals are conserved for future use.

E-waste recycling is especially important for businesses because of the volume of waste they produce. If you’re replacing dozens of old computers and monitors in your office, you should store them somewhere safe and bring them to Corridor Recycling. We offer recycling bins in several sizes to help you sort your recycling.

How to Recycle Electronics

Recycling electronics is easier than you might expect. The most important part is making an effort to sort and save all of your old electronics so you can take them to an E-waste recycling center.

Once you have a collection of old electronics you need to dispose of, you can load them up and bring them to Corridor Recycling. We can safely recycle a wide range of electronics, including computer towers, monitors, wires, laptops, televisions, cell phones, computer peripherals, and circuit boards. If you’re recycling a flat-screen TV or monitor, give us a call before you bring your recycling in.

It’s also important to keep in mind that certain types of E-waste may not be recyclable. Some older TVs may contain hazardous materials, which means you need to take them to a recycling center that accepts those materials. You can call and ask if you have any questions about which items we can accept.

Can You Get Paid for E-Waste?

Generally speaking, you won’t get paid for recycling your E-waste. That being said, you may want to take newer electronics to an electronics vending machine or a company that purchases slightly used electronics. For electronics that are several years or decades old, recycling is usually the smarter choice.

If you have large appliances that contain electrical components, you can recycle those as well. The team at Corridor Recycling will take care of separating the scrap metal from the electronics and properly disposing of each component. Depending on the condition of your appliances, we can even pay you for the scrap metal we get from them.

Corridor Recycling accepts several types of scrap metal, so you can get paid for your old stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and more. Feel free to call us and ask about recycling any old appliances or electronics you have lying around.

Are All Electronics Recyclable?

Our electronics recycling center is an easy way to responsibly dispose of your old electronics, but we can’t accept everything. As a general rule, you can recycle smartphones, newer TVs and monitors, computers, laptops, wires, circuit boards, and computer accessories. That being said, we may not be able to accept certain items depending on their age and condition or the materials they contain.

If you’re planning on bringing in a flat-screen TV or monitor, give us a call before you stop by. Certain electronics may need to be disposed of by a recycling center that handles hazardous materials.

Can I Recycle Appliances?

At Corridor Recycling, we do our best to make it easy for you to recycle all your electronics and household items — including appliances. We’re more than happy to help you break down and dispose of your old appliances, including stoves and refrigerators.

Even if you have older appliances with minimal electrical components, we’ll treat your appliances as scrap metal. That means you can also get paid for your old appliances, so you can help the environment and put some money back in your pocket. If you’re not sure if we can recycle a particular appliance, you can contact us online or call us to ask.

Safely Dispose of Old Electronics With Corridor Recycling

It’s easy to build up a lot of junk over time, especially if you’re buying a new smartphone or computer every few years. The good news is that you can get rid of all your old electronics without harming the environment or paying exorbitant fees. We can even recycle your appliances and pay you for the scrap metal.

Corridor Recycling is your go-to recycling center in the Long Beach area. We accept a wide range of materials, and our team can help you get everything unloaded at our facility. Call Corridor Recycling to learn more about where to recycle electronics and get rid of your old E-waste today.

Recycling can be difficult when you don’t know what you can and can’t recycle. Lucky for you, Corridor Recycling is here to help you learn more about how to recycle and which materials are recyclable.

If you’ve got a bunch of glass containers lying around, you’re probably looking for a way to get rid of them. The glass recycling center at Corridor Recycling takes the stress out of recycling non-CRV glass containers, making it easy to do your part to protect the environment. Learn more about why glass is recyclable and what you can do if you have recyclable glass containers.

Is Glass Recyclable?

Glass is absolutely on our list of recyclable materials. In fact, glass is arguably the best material when it comes to recycling. Old glass containers can be melted down and used to create new glass containers. Even better, you can recycle glass without losing quality or purity, which is something you can’t say about most materials.

Old glass containers are recycled by crushing them up, blending them together, and melting the glass pieces with other materials. Once that becomes molten glass, it can be poured into a mold to create a new jar, bottle, or any other type of glass container.

How to Recycle Glass

Recycling glass may seem like a lot of work because it’s heavy and bulky, but it’s not the most difficult task in the world. The first thing you should do is set up a container for glass. You can use a small container if you’re collecting glass at home, or a large recycling bin for collecting glass at work. When you’re finished using a glass container, rinse it out and put it in the glass bin.

Once you’ve got a bin full of clean glass, you can load it up in a vehicle and bring it to Corridor Recycling. You don’t have to worry about unloading your glass, waiting in line, or placing each container into a machine — we’ll take care of everything. All you have to do is bring us your clean glass containers once in a while.

Alternatively, you can recycle glass by having it picked up with your curbside recycling. Many garbage and recycling pickup services offer glass recycling in a separate bin. That way, you can collect your glass containers and put them out on the curb instead of hauling them to a recycling center.

What Types of Glass Are Recyclable?

Before you visit Corridor Recycling, you can check out our list of recyclable materials to make sure we can accept your recycling. If you have a question about recycling a specific type of glass or plastic, you can ask us online or give us a call to learn more.

Glass is tricky because there are lots of different types of glass. You can recycle standard glass containers you’d find in the grocery store, including jars, distilled spirit containers, wine bottles, and large juice containers. These glass containers aren’t treated or coated with anything, which means we can safely mix them in with the rest of our crushed glass recycling.

There are several types of treated glass that we can’t accept. Ceramics, Pyrex, and other glass that’s been treated for heat resistance may not be recyclable. Computer monitors, phone screens, and other electronics will need to be treated as E-waste. For some larger pieces of glass — like windshields and windows — you’ll have to check with us before you visit our recycling center.

At Corridor Recycling, we can help you dispose of various types of glass that you can’t put in your curbside recycling bin. If you have a question about a specific item, just give us a call.

Glass Bottles and CRV

In the state of California, many glass beverage containers have a CRV — or California Redemption Value. This is a small fee you pay when you purchase a beverage in a glass container, and you’re reimbursed for that fee when you bring CRV containers to a recycling center.

At Corridor Recycling, we’re more than happy to help you get rid of your old CRV beverage containers. We know how difficult it can be to stand in line at a grocery store or bottle drop location, especially when you have hundreds of bottles to get rid of. When you bring your CRV containers to Corridor Recycling, you don’t have to worry about waiting in line or putting each bottle in a machine. We’ll take care of everything for you, so all you have to do is bring us your glass bottles.

Keep in mind that CRV prices vary based on the size of the container. Standard bottles have a CRV of 5 cents, while some larger containers have a CRV of 10 cents.

Benefits of Glass Recycling

Recycling any material helps the environment, but glass recycling is particularly helpful because it’s so effective. Glass can be recycled over and over again, making it one of the most sustainable materials on the planet.

As a business owner or residential customer, glass is difficult to deal with. Glass containers are bulky and heavy, so most people don’t want a bunch of bottles or jars lying around the house. You also don’t want to fill up your curbside trash can with glass containers — especially if you have a smaller can. Recycling your glass saves you time and allows you to make the most of your limited space. 

Recycle Your Glass With Corridor Recycling

Whether you’ve got old glass jars and wine bottles or bags full of CRV glass bottles, Corridor Recycling is the simple solution. We can help you get rid of all your old glass, and we’ll get you paid for any CRV bottles. Even better, you don’t have to wait in line at a bottle drop location or lug around a bag of heavy glass bottles.

Corridor Recycling serves both residential and commercial customers, and we even have a selection of commercial recycling and collection equipment for businesses. If you want to make glass recycling easy and save space at your home or business, bring your glass containers to Corridor Recycling today.