Single-Serving Ice Cream Cup

It's tempting to look at the packaging around a product and make a blanket statement, like "It's recyclable," or "Black bin," but in fact most products have several parts. Are any of the pieces from the packaging around this sweet treat recyclable? All of them?

Postal Bag

Is the type of bag that goes through the mail every day OK to recycle?

One-Gallon Milk Jug

Are both bottle AND cap recyclable?

Plastic Fruit Carton

I feel ashamed every time I buy fruit that comes in a package. And yet, cartons like these do genuinely appear to protect the fruit. I say this can be recycled. Anyone disagree?

Ziploc Bags

As usual, the brand is not relevant. Zipper baggies of any size or variety, can you recycle them? Does it matter what condition they're in? Should you rinse them out? And the box they come in, you can recycle that because it's printed paper matter ... right? Please leave what ever you know in the comments below.

Plastic Tub of Butter

Does this need to be thrown into a landfill, or can it be recycled? What is the best way to dispose of this item?

The dreaded water bottle. Bane of environmentalists everywhere. But this is sort of an extra special water bottle. It's got a fancy red flip-top cap, and also an extra layer of label shrink-wrapped around its middle. I think the bottle itself is recyclable (just throw in your blue recycle bin), but how about the wrap? And what about the cap?

Cereal Box and the Bag Inside It

I look forward to a day when we don't need both a box AND a bag, but for now I'll settle for figuring out how to dispose of these items. I believe the box, which is basically printed paper matter, goes in the green recycle bin. But how about the bag? Can you recycle that? And as usual, I don't mean to pick on Cheerios. We're talking about any old cereal box here.

Facial Tissue

OK, here's a tricky one. How do you dispose of a tissue? Do you throw it in the garbage, or recycle it? Does it make a difference whether it's dirty or clean? And can you recycle the box? This box has a little bit of clear plastic on it, does that make a difference?

Banana Peel

A banana peel. This one is a little slippery! You probably already realized that a banana is a plant -- but did you know that it goes in the green recycle bin with all the other plant material? If you know of a better way to dispose of a banana peel, please share in the comments below.

Alkaline Batteries

Did you know you're not supposed to throw these in the garbage? Nor are you supposed to throw them in your recycle bin. In Los Angeles, the way you're supposed to get rid of alkaline batteries is to bring them to special battery recycling bins. You can find them at any local library. If you know of a better or different way to dispose of batteries, or if you dispose of them differenty in your area, please share in the comments below.

Soda Can

This is an easy one. You throw it in the blue recycle bin. I don't mean to pick on Coke, either. Any soda can goes in the blue bin. But if you know of a better or different way to dispose of cans, please share in the comments below.