Be a Recycling Detective

A good place to begin is in the supermarket. Clues are everywhere.

Check labels. In our quest for healthier foods, Pennsylvanians are reading nutritional labels on packages. Let's commit ourselves to reading environmental labels and buying recyclable and recycled products or products packaged in recycled materials.

Check labels on boxes of cereal, and check boxes of cookies and crackers. Check canned goods and food in glass containers.

Check detergents and cleaning supplies in plastic containers. In fact, start checking all labels on all items you buy. Good detective work will uncover dozens of packages made from recycled materials.

Make an effort to look for recycling information printed on packages. You might be surprised to find that even with products you buy on a regular basis you've been "buying recycled." Most manufacturers that use cans and glass in their packaging already use recycled materials.

Some labels are small, some large. Some appear on side panels, others appear on flaps of a box or carton. Although there is no standard or universal symbol, many companies use three arrows forming a loop.

Of course, you should continue to be on the lookout for recyclable materials. These are some of the logos that help consumers identify recyclable packaging or products: Some of these symbols may also be used to identify products and packaging made from recycling materials.

Make It a Family Project-or a School Project

Supermarket sleuthing can be fun for the entire family. Young people should be encouraged to read packages. And a "buy recycled" project would make an excellent school activity.