How to Recycle for Carbon Credits

Want to save the planet? Start by recycling.

Increasing levels of carbon dioxide or CO2 in the atmosphere have been implicated in global warming and climate change. Decreasing the levels of CO2 to curb these trends necessitates using environmentally-friendly or green initiatives such as solar lighting and recycling. Participate in the Recycling Offset Credit Program and you can buy or sell carbon credits received from recycling to earn extra income or offset carbon footprints of a particular company or geographical location.

Instructions

The Process to Recycling Offset Credits

1. Take your recyclables to a facility that will weigh your items and issue a receipt. Hold on to your receipt. Search for any recycling receipts you may have from 90 days before the day you plan to submit them for Recycle Offset Credits.

2. Search the Internet for "RecycleNet.net." Press "Join Now" in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. Fill in the required information and agree to the "Terms and Conditions." Creation of your account and detailed instructions to log into your account will be sent to your email by RecycleNet.

3. Log into your email and follow the directions from RecyleNet to open your account using your user-name and password. Log the transactions from the past 90 days into your Recycling Offset Credit Account. Include the details of the company you recycled your items with.

4. Redeem or trade credits, which accumulate once the company you recycled with validates your logged transaction, on RecycleNet. Recycle one ton of material and you and the company you recycled with receive one Recycling Offset Credit, also known as a carbon credit.

Tips & Warnings

• Trading of Recycling Offset Credits does not guarantee a reduction in the total CO2 levels in the atmosphere alone and must be coupled with new greener technologies that decrease overall emissions to be effective in reducing global warming and the effects of climate change.

• Payment must be made to RecycleNet to cover shipping and handling costs of sending you your Recycling Offset Credit Certificates, which only prove that you recycled your goods and do not guarantee a monetary value.

• Consider your personal ethical reasons for recycling before you decide to begin trading carbon credits. Consider that purchasers of these credits may come from industries that are historically notorious for emitting high levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions that are highly regulated and may be purchasing credits as a short-term alternative to adopting greener technologies.

References

• Recycle Bills: How Carbon Credits Work
• Planet Green Recycling: Carbon Credits Explained
• Recycling Offset Credits: About ROCs

Resources

• Transcarbon
• Recycling Offset Credits