Johan

Which Plastics Can Be Recycled?

When it comes to recycling plastic, it can be very confusing because there are so many different types of plastic. And in some cases, recycling programs will take only certain plastics but not others.

This can be a bit frustrating when you are trying to do your part for the environment. Fortunately, there are some general guidelines you can follow to make sure your plastic waste does not end up in a landfill, but instead heads off to the recycling plant to be transformed and reused once more.

Here are some of the essentials you need to know about recycling plastic.

Beware of Plastic Shopping Bags

These are by far the most common and can be the most dangerous of all plastics. Invest in reusable shopping bags. If you do have to take some, use the return program at the store, or make sure you reuse them as needed.

Plastic Trash Bags

If you are going to use plastic trash bags, choose ones that are biodegradable and photodegradable. Recycle as much of your trash as you can and compost as much of your organic matter as you can. Place the rest in an eco-friendly trash bag. Fill the bag as much as possible to make the most of it.

Plastics 1 to 7

If you look carefully at a piece of plastic and it is recyclable, you should see the recycle symbol and a number inside of it. The number refers to the type of plastic the items is made from.
https://www-tc.pbs.org/strangedays/pdf/StrangeDaysSmartPlasticsGuide.pdf

Some local collection services accept all type of plastics. Others are confined to only certain numbers on the list. It is important to know which are accepted so things don’t end up in landfill for no reason.

If any items are not accepted, you could keep them and reuse them yourself, or find a collection point that recycles those numbered items. Note that the guidelines change from time to time, so check any flyers you are sent in the mail from your local sanitation services.

You can also try to find your local services online and see if they have printable guidelines you can post in your kitchen to remind you what to do, such as:
http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/downloads/pdf/promotional-materials/recycling-checklist-english-chinese-06359-f.pdf

Make sure the items have been washed before you recycle them. Avoid heating food in plastic trays too, because it might break down that type of plastic and the plastic can leach into your food.

Office Equipment

One final group of items that is heavy on plastics and should be recycled as conscientiously as possible is office equipment such as desktop and laptop computers, phones, printers and so on.

In large cities, you should be able to find businesses that repurpose the computers and either sell them to the public, or give them to schools that need computers. In terms of urban recycling programs, also look out for special days to recycle these items. You will usually have to bring them to a particular location.

In both cases, ask for a receipt for the item so you can deduct it from your taxes.

Note that in the case of desktop monitors and TVs, some recycling places and those that offer these services like Best Buy will charge a $25 fee.

What to Do If You Have Been Defrauded

No one wants to think about what to do if they are the victim of online fraud, but being familiar with the most important steps to take could help the whole incident become a lot less devastating.

State versus Federal Level

Fraud can be on a state or federal level in the US. If federal, the Department of Justice would be involved in the case. A case is federal depending on:

* The type of fraud
* The amount of money stolen
* The laws violated (federal, state or both)
* If public services were used, such as the U.S. Postal Service or Medicare
* The location of the crime; that is, within a state, or across state or national borders

Types of Fraud to Look Out For

Here are the main types of fraud to look out for:

* Telemarketing fraud, trying to sell fake goods or services
* Mail fraud
* Credit card and check fraud
* Identity theft
* Bank fraud
* Pyramid or Ponzi schemes
* Internet fraud
* Health care and insurance fraud
* Pension and trust fund fraud
* Fraud related to securities, commodities, and other investments

What to Do If You Are a Victim

This will depend in part on what kind of fraud you have fallen victim to, but the best policy is to inform the people who need to know right away so your legal protection can kick in. For example, if you’re the victim of credit card theft, the sooner you report it, the less likely you are to be found liable for the fraudulent charges on the card.

In this case, you would notify the credit card company and file a police report. Start gathering paperwork as needed, such as a copy of the scamming web page, receipts, bank statements and so on.

1. File a police report

This will alert the police to the fraud and help put your legal protection into place in relation to, for example, what you might or might not be liable for if someone has stolen your credit card and is on a shopping spree.

2. Notify the bank and credit card company

If you used a debit card, you have 48 hours to report a fraudulent charge.

If you are having credit card issues, phone the issuer right away to freeze your account and report the status of the card, such as lost, stolen, or your statement as showing fraudulent charges.

3. Deal with the credit bureaus

Contact the three main credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to file a Fraud Victim Statement. Also ask them to issue a security freeze on your credit report so that no one will be able to try to get extended credit on the basis of your credit history and score.

4. Report Any Phishing

Go to https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0003-phishing to report any phishing emails you’ve received, or may have fallen prey to.

5. Deal with identity theft proactively

Go to https://www.identitytheft.gov/ Tell them what happened, and formulate an action plan for recovery.

6. Don’t be embarrassed

Experts suspect that a lot of fraud is going unreported because people are embarrassed to admit they have been tricked by a phishing email and so on. But loss of money and personal data can have serious consequences. Plus, the more that is reported, the better chance there is of stopping the cybercriminals and helping save others from being defrauded.