To learn more about the "Mobius" recycle symbol try these sites. The Mobius Loop

The Mobius -
Recycle it, Reuse it, Rebuy it
The Register Guard - November 1998

You know recycling is important. It's second nature to you to recycle your newspapers, your plastics and glass. But where does it go? Everyone is familiar with the recycling triangle symbol logo tells the story.

But what does the chasing arrows symbol really mean? The recycling symbol is made up of three arrows. Recycling only works if all the loops are completed. The material you recycle needs to be used again in a new product, and then that product must be purchased. Each arrow represents a step in the recycling process. Step one is separating out recyclable material from your garbage and setting it out for collection. The second is when a business uses this material as feedstock for making a new product. And the third arrow represents consumers purchasing products made with the recyclable material that was put in the curbside recycling bin or deposited at a recycling collection center. This process or loop, is then repeated over and over again, creates true recycling.

Buying products with recycled materials is the key to keeping making recycling working and a part of our waste management system. There is no point in collecting materials for recycling if someone does not use them. It is a simple lesson in economics matter of supply and demand. In order for recycled materials to have value and be used by businesses, there needs to be a demand. You, the consumer, create this demand by purchasing products that contain recycled content. If you are not buying recycled, you're not really recycling.!

Buying recycled is easy, but you need to know what to look for. The key is buying products that have been made from material that has already been through the consumer cycle. The higher the percentage of post-consumer material the better. There are thousands of post- consumer recycled content products available today that are competitive in quality, performance, availability and price with products made solely only from virgin natural new resources. Post consumer recycled content means that the materials used to construct the package or product have come from a drop off or curbside recycling program somewhere. The higher the percentage of post consumer material, the better. This is the most important number to look for in regards to buying recycled. Just because you see the recycling triangle on a package does not mean that it contains post consumer recycled content.

Some product packaging choices are no- brainers when it comes to recycled content. Aluminum beverage cans go from the recycling bin back to the shelf in the store in about six weeks and can contain as much as 100% recycled aluminum. Glass contains on average more than 50% post consumer glass. Most tin cans include 20% to 30% post consumer steel in them. Cereal boxes have been made out of recycled paper years before advertising the fact was thought to boost sales.

Plastic products need closer attention. Most plastic containers do not contain post consumer plastic. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved plastic to be reused or recycled into food containers. This barrier significantly reduces the recyclability of these products. If you are purchasing a non-food product (shampoo, detergent, etc.) in a plastic container check to see the post consumer percentage and strive to buy the one with the highest content. Plastic lumber is one of the largest uses for recycled plastic. Consider it if you are building a deck or garden bed.

Last but certainly not least, speak up. As a customer, you have enormous power. Fill out customer satisfaction cards; write to your grocer, or directly to the product manufacturer. Let them know that you want to see them support packaging design that is easily recycled and contains post consumer material.

Why is recycling important? If as a nation we increased our recycling rate to 35% from its current 27% rate, 13.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide or equivalent greenhouse gas emissions would be kept from the air we breathe. That is equivalent to taking 8 million cars off the road. So buy recycled and keep recycling working

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