We hear it all over the place -- Recycle, Recycle, Recycle.  It's a wonderful act that takes next to no time to do, yet has a tremendous impact on the planet we call home.

But did you know that not everything can be recycled?  I know there are some who put every peice of plastic, glass, and metal they can into the recycle bin, but if it's not something the plant can break down, it goes straight into the trash!

So here are a few simple things you should know about recycling in Charleston County.

You don't have to sort out the plastics, cans and bottles.  Put them all together in the blue bin.  However, papers and paperboards should be tied together or placed in a paper bag next to the blue bin.

Charleston County only recycles #1 and #2 plastics.  As an easy reference, most bottles and jugs are good, but most plastic cups are not.

Corrugated cardboard cannot be picked up, but it can be taken to one of over 30 recycle drop sites around the lowcountry.

And please remember -- hardworking people sort through all of your recyclables, so rinse out all of your bottles and jars, please!  If a peanut butter jar or ketchup bottle full of gunk comes into the plant, it gets tossed right into the trash instead of what it's meant to be there for.

Happy Recycling!