Category: Quick Reads

Psst — the color-coded ✱ icons in this story are clickable. Tap one for a recycling rule, a recycling benefit or a bit of need-to-know trivia.

The night was dark. His surroundings coated in dew from a dense fog. And Frank was face down in a recycling cart. The only sound was the rustling of common household recyclables as Recycling rule: he licked forgotten yogurt cups, orange juice bottles and bean cans cleanYou found a recycling basic! Plastic, metal and glass containers should be rinsed (or carefully licked clean) before being recycled curbside.Close✕he licked forgotten yogurt cups, orange juice bottles and bean cans clean.

That’s when he heard it. A sound that made his ears shoot up. Frank peered out of the recycling cart to look around him. Nothing. Frank returned to his work when again … tap, tap. Tap. Tap, tap.

When he looked out, he saw only the neighboring recycling cart. Something was inside.

Frank’s fur stood on end as he drew nearer. A blur of white shot at him and wrapped around his back paw. Frank hissed — kicking until he saw the blur was a plastic bag … Good to know: a tanglerDid you know, tanglers are items that tangle up recyclables, recycling machines and raccoons. Plastic bags, however, can be taken back to local grocers like Meijer and Kroger for recycling.Close✕a tangler.

That couldn’t have made the sound, so what had? Frank continued forward and lifted the lid to see the cart was full of … tanglers! He fell back at the sight, scrambling behind a nearby tree as images of what he had seen flashed through his mind. Good to know: String lights, rope, wire and even hangers — all stuffed inside a recycling cartFYI: String lights, rope, wires and hangers are all included in the tangler category and should be kept FAR from your curbside cart.Close✕String lights, rope, wire and even hangers — all stuffed inside a recycling cart. And all coiling around common household recyclables.

If these items made it back to a recycling center, they could tangle a sorting machine and stop Recycling benefit: loads of recyclables from becoming new itemsYou found a recycling benefit! Recycling helps items become something new, rather than lying in a landfill.Close✕loads of recyclables from becoming new items! Frank was frantic as he rushed back to the cart. He didn’t have time for fear. He had to save the recyclables!

His paws worked feverishly to yank tangler after tangler, even as they tangled around him. In his mind, he could hear his mother Pearl’s voice: “Recycling benefit: Recyclables save energy and help the economyYou found a recycling benefit! In Michigan, recycling and reuse industries support more than 72,500 jobs and can save up to 95% of energy.Rope: Cut into smaller sections before placing in your trash.Hangers: Place in curbside trash.String Lights: Look for local drop-off options.Hoses: Remove the metal ends and take to a specialty recycler or cut the hose into smaller sections before placing in your trash.Wire: Look for local options that will buy old wire or take to a specialty recycler.Close✕Recyclables save energy and help the economy, Frank. That’s why it’s our duty to save them in return … ”

Finally, the unfettered recyclables lay loose in the recycling cart, but Frank knew he wasn’t done. He had to get rid of the tanglers — properly. And yet, as he pulled the last one out of the cart, his strength left him and he passed out on the soft grass.

“Awrite, laddie? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost!”

“Oh man, he’s laid out.”

Frank blinked awake at two raccoons, one with a purple mohawk holding drumsticks and another with a plaid hat and paper bagpipes. They helped him up, asking about what had happened. As Frank explained, the two smiled and helped remove the tanglers. Recycling rule: They disposed of each oneYou found a recycling rule! Remember! While each tangler has its own disposal process, most can be donated or resold if they are in good condition!Close✕They disposed of each one before leading him to a small group they called … the Recycling Raccoon Squad.