If you are considering the idea of recycling more of your waste, you may be asking yourself “What are the different grades of paper?” It is important to be able to recognize these different grades of paper so that you can separate non-recyclable material from recyclable waste. The following are the five basic grades of recyclable paper.

1. Old Newspapers (ONP): These will often be recycled back into paper for news content or for paperboard and tissue.

2. Old Corrugated Containers (OCC): This type is also known as corrugated cardboard and will be turned into shipping boxes or paperboard for products like cereal.

3. High Grade Deinked Paper: This category is made up of paper that has gone through the printing process. This includes printed paper, letterheads, envelopes and paper scraps that have gone through the printer. In order to be recycled, it must first be deinked so that it can be turned into printing and writing papers and tissue.

4. Pulp Substitutes: You won’t have this type of paper lying around your home. These are the shavings and scraps left over at paper mills. Paper mills can often use these instead of fresh pulp to create their high-grade papers.

5. Mixed: This category is fairly broad. Pieces of paper that are included in the category include: mail, paperboard, telephone books, catalogs and magazines. These types of paper can be used in the production of paperboard and tissue or as a secondary fiber in producing new paper. In addition, mixed recyclable paper can be used as a raw material in non-paper products, like molded pulp, gypsum wallboard, roofing felt, chipboard, and egg cartons.

Ask The Experts

If you have any doubt about what paper products can be recycled, contact a professional. He or she probably won’t even have to look up the answer to your question “What are the different grades of paper?” TalkLocal can put you in touch with a qualified garbage removal professional in your area for free — right now!

You have finished your home renovation project and now your house looks great. The only problem is the giant pile of garbage left over. Instead of attempting to bag it up and hope the garbage man takes it away for you, check out these tips on how to dispose of construction waste.

Rent A Dumpster

Doing this can help you a lot in the long run, but you should rent the dumpster before your construction project begins. Dumpsters, also called “containers”, come in multiple sizes to meet your waste disposal needs. You can have the dumpster dropped off and picked up — waste and all — at your convenience.

Re-use It

As you go through, if there is anything that could be used again, separate it into piles. You can keep it and refinish it if you have a crafty touch, or you could donate it to a resale shop. Some local organizations might also have a use for miscellaneous items that can be broken down. For example, old furniture is often used by gardeners because of the wood frames that can be turned into flower boxes and such.

Recycle It

These days, you can really recycle almost anything, and you are helping the environment when you make the choice to recycle. Styrofoam, for example, takes hundreds of years to break down, which means it just sits there, taking up space. Contrary to popular belief, Styrofoam is recyclable. Wood, insulation, glass, drywall, and other items commonly produced by construction waste are recyclable as well.

Call In The Professionals

If you can’t find a use for it and can’t get it in a dumpster or container, you may consider hiring a professional waste management team to remove your construction waste for you. They will certainly know how to dispose of construction waste.

No matter what you choose, removing waste properly is an important aspect of your construction project. TalkLocal can connect you with the professionals in your area who can help you with any of the above options and more.

There are many different reasons why you might be wondering how to rent a dumpster. Maybe you’re renovating your home, or hosting a large event, or working with your business and producing substantial waste. Regardless, you need to get that waste out of your way.

Here are the appropriate steps for how to rent a dumpster:

Make sure you know the lingo. Professional rental services may also use terms like “container,” “roll-off,” or “yarder” (or “twenty yarder” for a 20-cubic-yard container).

Make sure you know the regulations. If you need to park this container on the street, you should discuss that with local authorities to be sure it’s parked legally. You may need a permit for your container as well.

Know what you need. Containers come in various sizes, ranging from 10 cubic yards to 40 cubic yards. Think about your project and what waste it may produce so you can estimate how large of a container you will need. If you evaluate your needs and realize you might not even need a dumpster, there are other ways to remove bulk waste from your property.

Confirm that you can get the container in and out. Wherever you are going to park the dumpster, you need to clear a space for the truck that will be dropping it off and picking it up. If your area is frequented by parallel parkers, you should invest in some orange cones to clear the area the truck will need, especially if the container is being picked up or dropped off while you are not there. If the truck cannot get in, you may not get what you need.

Connect With A Dumpster Rental Company 

TalkLocal can connect you with the professionals you need to rent a dumpster in your area. We make it easy for you by removing the work from your search. We can also connect you with professionals that can answer any questions about your projects, be it a smaller home renovation project or something large that requires dumpster rental.

In our ever “greener” society, composting waste has become more popular among the masses. If you’re considering trying to compost your waste, you may be surprised to learn there are more benefits of composting your garbage than just reducing landfill waste.

Here are the top five benefits of composting your garbage:

1. Fertilizer: Some of the most nutrient-rich parts of the food we eat get thrown away. Orange rinds, potato peels, etc. — they all get hauled to the dump. Wouldn’t you rather your garden or lawn benefit from these left over nutrients?

2. Water absorption: Increasing the amount of organic material in your soil — particularly in sandy soil — will help it retain more water. If your soil drains rapidly, there are many plants that will not survive in your garden. Compost can help the water to hang around long enough for your water-loving plants to use it.

3. Aeration: Increasing compost in your soil can also help aerate it. This is particularly important in clay soils. If your soil is densely packed, plant roots may have a difficult time digging deep and will not be able to absorb enough water.

4. Toxin removal: Organic compost can help trap and break down harmful environmental toxins such as chemical fertilizers, oil and grease, which can enter our water supply. This is helpful to the environment as well as each of us individually.

5. Money: Many garbage removal companies charge for more than one trash can. If you can reduce your waste by the average of 25 to 50 percent (the average amount of compostable waste we throw away), you could reduce your garbage bill. You’ll also save on buying fertilizers from your local nursery.

Have Questions?

If the benefits of composting your garbage have won you over but you don’t know where to start, check with a professional. TalkLocal can get you in touch with a professional in your area fast. Try out our free service today.

That antique chair was absolutely beautiful — at least, until a leg fell off and the cushion started smelling like last week’s dinner. Now you have to figure out what to do with it. You do not want to keep it, but you also can’t just toss it in the trash bin. If you’re wondering how to get rid of large, bulky furniture, you have a few different options to try:

Selling it. If the piece is easy to repair or unbroken, you could use websites like CraigsList, Amazon or eBay to sell the item locally. Often, buyers are willing to pick up their purchases, making the process easier for you.

Donate it. If the piece, or any part of it, can be used, local charity organizations would be happy to use them! Some organizations even prefer broken furniture so they can recycle the parts.

Throw it out. If there’s absolutely no use for this piece, you may have to just toss it. In this case, you need to check with your local city trash collection or sanitation department to make sure you’re following proper protocol. Oftentimes, garbage removal workers need advanced notice before picking something up curbside. In this situation, you will also need to remove the furniture from your home yourself. Although this is rare, some municipalities may even require you to bring the piece to the local dump or landfill yourself.

Contact A Garbage Removal Service

If you find yourself unable to do much of this work yourself, you may want to hire a junk removal company. Professionals like this certainly know how to get rid of large furniture efficiently and according to the appropriate rules and regulations.

Be sure you choose the right company or professional. You can use TalkLocal to connect with local junk removal companies. We take the work out of connecting you with the professionals you truly need.

Styrofoam is actually a brand name for a material that is really named polystyrene. These products are practically everywhere. One important thing to note is that research has linked these types of products to certain cancers. These products are not at all good for the environment so it might not be wise to simply drop them in the trash like any other piece of garbage.

You may be wondering, “Where can I recycle Styrofoam?” Well, there are many different ways to reuse and recycle Styrofoam. The following is a list of ideas to reuse Styrofoam and places to recycle it. After all, if you have the chance to re-use trash, why not?

Reusing Styrofoam

Where Can I Recycle Styrofoam?

Be Part of the Green Solution

Recycling Styrofoam is important for a number of different reasons. Asking, “Where can I recycle Styrofoam?” is one of the first steps in reducing the size of your carbon footprint and helping the environment.

Try to reuse Styrofoam whenever you can. Throwing it in the trash to enter landfills is simply thoughtless. Be a part of the solution instead of the problem.

Get Connected

You can even start a recycling program in your neighborhood. TalkLocal has the ability to connect you with garbage removal services that are Earth friendly. We take a great amount of pride in connecting you with the businesses that provide the services you are looking for.

Should I Separate My Recyclables?

According to EPA statistics, Americans create several million tons of garbage every year. Curbside recycling for homes and businesses reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills while simultaneously also reducing the amount of raw materials needed to create new products. However, as a resident or business owner, you may not know the correct way to recycle. Every municipality is different, although there are a few general guidelines for recycling that everyone should follow.

General Answer: Yes

Especially for businesses, the answer to the question, “Should I separate my recyclables” is yes. Often recycling companies require at the very least that you separate paper and commingled recyclables into separate bins or containers. The amount you must separate your commingled recyclables depends on the recycling company and your city or county’s recycling requirements.

What Does “Commingled” Mean?

As it applies to recycling, the term “commingled” refers to recyclables like glass, aluminum and tin. Many curbside recycling companies will accept “commingled” recyclables together in one bin rather than requiring them to be separated out into individual bins. Allowing residents to mix these items together makes it easier for them to recycle because it’s less work. Items are then separated at the recycling plant. Recycling requirements may be different for businesses, however. Because businesses generate more waste, recycling companies may require that companies separate glass and aluminum, for example, rather than allowing them to be recycled together, as they often do for private residents.

Check with Your Municipality

If you aren’t sure whether or not you can mix your recyclables, contact your local municipality for guidelines. They will have a list of items that you are allowed to recycle, and they will often have a list of prohibited items as well. Some municipalities allow you to commingle all of your recyclables including paper while others are very specific about how your recyclables must be separated and put out on the curb. You should follow the directions of your municipality. If you break the rules, the city may have the right to stop picking up recycling from your residence as well as issue you a fine for recycling improperly.

Additional Help

If you need help with garbage removal or recycling at your home or business, allow TalkLocal to find reputable waste removal services for you. We will connect you with up to three local professionals in just minutes!

On average, Americans produce about 280 million tons of garbage each year. While most of this is standard kitchen garbage, a significant portion of it is large items. Unlike a simple bag of trash, these bulk items aren’t always so easy or cheap to dispose of. This is evidenced by how much bulk trash is dumped illegally. This creates both an eyesore and a health hazard, so it’s important to dispose of it properly. Fortunately, there are a number of options available that make this easier. Here’s how to get rid of bulk trash.

Curbside

Oftentimes, the easiest way to get rid of big items you don’t want is to leave them on the curbside. Most cities have bulk waste pickup programs that will pick these things up regularly, albeit infrequently. There’s also the possibility that someone in the area may come and collect it for scrap. The country is full of people who make a living doing this, and it provides you with a quick and convenient way to dispose of bulky items.

The Dump

In most places, you can drive your bulk trash to the local landfill and dispose of it there. However, this can be expensive and may only be worth the cost if you have a large haul.

City Drop-Off

Some cities have programs in place that allow you to easily dispose of bulk waste. Such programs maintain several drop-off points in the area for people to leave their trash. Unfortunately, not all cities have these programs, and they still require you to load, transport, and unload things yourself. This can pose an injury risk, use up valuable time, and cost a lot of money in gasoline. Furthermore, the closest drop-off point may still be further away than is practical.

Garbage Removal Services

The best option by far is to hire a garbage removal service. For a fee, these companies will come to your home, load up your unwanted trash into a truck and haul it away. You’ll never have to become physically involved in the process. Use TalkLocal to find a reputable garbage removal service near you. We will connect you with up to three local professionals in just minutes!

Can I Recycle Waxy Cardboard?

In the modern age of environmental responsibility, many people try to recycle everything they can. Still, a few items remain unable to be recycled because recycling plants can’t process them effectively. People often wonder about waxy or “waxed” cardboard and whether or not they can recycle it. Recycling companies take paper as well as regular cardboard, and they often will also take clean paper food containers, so shouldn’t they take waxy cardboard too?

The short answer: No

Recycling plants can’t recycle waxy or waxed cardboard the way that they can recycle unwaxed cardboard or paper. The wax cannot be removed during the process of recycling. Therefore, when the plant creates the new paper from the recycled cardboard, the raw material contains both wax and paper, not just the paper. The inclusion of the wax creates holes or breaks in the new, recycled paper, and leads to easy tearing of the paper, decreasing its sturdiness and making it unusable.

What Is “Waxy Cardboard,” Anyway?

Waxy cardboard refers to cardboard that has been coated with a layer of wax to prevent things like germ or mold contamination and insect infestation. Wax coating on cardboard also helps to prevent leaks or the seeping of oils. You can tell if you have waxy cardboard by running your fingernail along the coated or shiny surface. If you have waxed cardboard, the wax will peel off where you’ve scratched the surface.

Don’t Confuse Waxy with Glossy

Waxy cardboard is mainly used for things like produce boxes that are delivered to places like grocery stores and restaurants. It is actually not likely that most residential homes will have a lot of waxy cardboard on hand that needs to be disposed of. People often confuse waxy cardboard with glossy cardboard or paper. Glossy material can and should be recycled, and in most cases you can put glossy material out with your regular cardboard and paper curbside recycling.

Additional Help

If you need help with recycling or waste removal, use TalkLocal to find reputable recycling and garbage removal services. We will connect you with up to three garbage removal services in your area who will be available to help you when you need them.

Cleaning is not always at the top of everyone’s list of things that they are looking forward to doing in their spare time. Households and businesses that need garbage removal are looking to upgrade their environment. Removing clutter from interior spaces can feel like a big project. It only takes a few months of not thoroughly cleaning to accumulate a large amount of clutter.

Electronic items are often expensive when they are first purchased. Technology changes every few years and many people feel compelled to upgrade their electronic devices often to stay current. Many people have several different handheld devices and cell phones in their residence or office that are not being used. Recycling electronics for cash is a green solution to eliminating electronic clutter.

Recycling Electronics for Cash

The cash that is gained from the electronics can be used to upgrade a phone or take care of an outstanding debt. Newer phones and smart phones often hold the most value. Never underestimate the value of the electronics before deciding to recycle them.

Spend time to look through storage areas in the attic or in garages on the property for any electronics that may have been left behind. Older phones are often outdated and undesirable for someone in the west; however there is a thriving market all around the world for cell phones. These older phones are often refurbished and sold for affordable prices around the globe.

Throwing electronics into the traditional garbage usually leads to local dumps or landfills. Electronic items do not break down over time and can cause harm to the environment if they are not recycled or disposed of properly. It may therefore be beneficial to you to try to sell your older electronics to repair shops or non-corporate electronics shops who would be willing to take old devices, refurbish them, and resell them at lower prices.

Additional Help

If you have a pile of old electronic devices that you want to be rid of, don’t just throw them in the trash. There very well may be someone who is willing to pay cash for those electronics. Allow TalkLocal to help you find them. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with local professionals who can help you dispose of old electronics for cash. Save the online searching hassle and use TalkLocal!