The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

What weighs 3 1/2 million tons, is twice the size of Texas and eats everything that comes its way? The Great Pacific Garbage Patch circulates throughout the central North Pacific. This swirling vortex of plastic and other debris endangers many species and creates environmental hazards for us all. By using green and other biobased alternatives such SKILCRAFT® recycled products, we can significantly cut down on the amount of Styrofoam™ and other plastics in our oceans.

Green Product Categories

• Compostable Supplies
• Natural Detergents
• Natural Cleaners
• Nontoxic Supplies
• Eco-Friendly Supplies
• Dissolvable Labels
• Sustainable Products

Green Brands

• Recycled SKILCRAFT Products
• Seventh Generation
• Nature Saver
• Method Natural Cleaner
• Green Works
• Stout

Difference Between Pre-consumer Waste and Post-consumer Waste

These days, we hear a great deal about recycling processes but what exactly does this mean? In particular, what is the difference between post-consumer waste and pre-consumer waste? Pre-consumer waste is waste produced during the manufacturing process. For example, plastic shavings in a factory that fall to the floor while the product is being made would be an example of pre-consumer waste. This material is typically reused to manufacture more of the same or other products.

Post-consumer waste on the other hand is waste produced after a finished product has been used. Rather than disposing of a water bottle or soda can, the material in that product can be recycled for the same or other purposes. Both are important ways to recycle and the difference is not so important as much as the fact that the material is not being wasted. Any time a product or a byproduct can be reused, that is one less item that will end up in a landfill and wasted forever when it did not have to be.

The Proper Way to Recycle

Although many products carry the recycling symbol, a dirty little secret about recycling is that many of these so called "recyclable products" are often disposed of. In an ideal world, products that can be recycled would always be recycled but it is not uncommon to find many municipalities rejecting items they do not have the capacity to recycled or consider not worthy of their resources.

Whether it really costs more to recycle these than it does to dispose of them is not always so clear as townships typically just instruct people to throw out items like plastic cups bearing the recycling symbol as well as plastic food containers that also bear this symbol. If you are not sure what your town can recycle, check with your local municipality. Usually, this matter is handled by the public works department. While it may not be as easy to recycle items that are typically rejected by local recycling centers, this does not mean that it is impossible. It may take making some phone calls, doing some searches online or dropping off the items yourself but a little extra effort may very well pay off.