“My friends are always asking me their questions about recycling. In fact I get so many questions, I wrote a book to answer them!” Author and recycling expert Jennie Romer makes clear that local recycling rules are the most critical guide that anyone reading this book should follow. Even so, that still leaves plenty of information for her to share in this lively picture book, from reasons to recycle to what happens at a recycling facility (“sorting—lots and lots of sorting!”) to the kinds of materials that can be recycled (and the kinds that cannot), to important reasons to avoid “wishcycling” (throwing things into recycling that aren’t actually recyclable), and more. Romer delivers her knowledge with enthusiasm, while humorous spot illustrations add to the appeal. (Ages 7-10)

“If you’ve ever been perplexed by the byzantine rules of recycling, you’re not alone…you’ll want to read Can I Recycle This?... An extensive look at what you can and cannot chuck into your blue bin.” —The Washington Post

The first illustrated guidebook that answers the age-old question: Can I Recycle This?

Since the dawn of the recycling system, men and women the world over have stood by their bins, holding an everyday object, wondering, "can I recycle this?" This simple question reaches into our concern for the environment, the care we take to keep our homes and our communities clean, and how we interact with our local government. Recycling rules seem to differ in every municipality, with exceptions and caveats at every turn, leaving the average American scratching her head at the simple act of throwing something away. Taking readers on a quick but informative tour of how recycling actually works (setting aside the propaganda we were all taught as kids), Can I Recycle This gives straightforward answers to whether dozens of common household objects can or cannot be recycled, as well as the information you need to make that decision for anything else you encounter. 

Jennie Romer has been working for years to help cities and states across America better deal with the waste we produce, helping draft meaningful legislation to help communities better process their waste and produce less of it in the first place. She has distilled her years of experience into this non-judgmental, easy-to-use guide that will change the way you think about what you throw away and how you do it.