Despite decades of recycling programs, many Americans are still doing it wrong.  Many things that can’t be recycled are tossed in the bins, and with changes in the way plastics are manufactured now, we need to make sure what we think we’re recycling can be used.  Let’s look at ways we can improve what and how we’re recycling. 

• Rinsing any type of food containers–plastic, steel, and glass–is a good idea, but not all municipalities require it.  Check with your local waste management office about rinsing, or not to rinse. 
• Plastic bottles of all kinds and their lids can be tossed together.  Manufacturers are now using recyclable materials for the tops. 
• Keep plastic shopping bags in a bag of their own, and take them back to the store they came from for recycling.  Don’t throw them in the recycle bin. 
• Cardboard food delivery boxes, namely pizza boxes, can be recycled in many areas, but make sure they’ll take the greasy bottoms.  If not, tear off the lid and toss it in the bin! 
• We don’t always think about toilet paper and paper towel tubes, so add those to your recyclables pile. 
• According to Waste-free Mail’s website, Americans use an average of 700 pounds of paper products per person, per year.  Almost all paper products are recyclable, so check with your waste management about what they collect. 
• Don’t throw that package wrapper in the garbage!  Check out what’s recyclable by using this guide from plasticmakers.org. 
• Many bathroom items get overlooked in the recycling game.  Bottles for bathing products, deodorant containers, and empty medicine bottles are all perfectly recyclable. 
• Milk and juice cartons are recyclable!  Many of them end up in landfills because it’s believed they are coated in wax. 
• Unfortunately, your disposable coffee cup should be just that–disposed of.  They are coated on the inside with polyethylene, making them non-recyclable.   

If you’re in doubt about an item, find out if it’s okay before you put it in your bin.  “Contamination” items can bring the machinery to a halt in the sorting process, costing time and money.  After getting the correct information from your area’s waste management program about what you can and can’t recycle, check to see if other things can be dropped off at a local center.  Find what goes where: www.orlando.gov/Trash-Recycling/What-Goes-Where. Not only do we need to recycle, we need to buy recycled to complete the circle.  Besides helping improve our environment, when we buy products or packaging made from recycled products, we encourage manufacturers to start using more recycled materials, and that’s what recycling is all about. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Zillow.com defines the term disclosure as “…the buyer’s opportunity to learn as much as they can about the property and the seller’s experience in it.”  In most states, this simply means that the seller must let the buyer know about problems that they are aware of.  Whether you’re selling or buying a house, disclosing issues with the house is an extremely important part of the process.  

What Disclosure Means for the Seller 

• Your listing agent will provide a form for you to fill out, answering questions with either yes, no or I don’t know about different aspects of the house.  This form should be filled out truthfully and to the best of your knowledge. 
• Items that most states ask you to disclose to the buyer:  lead paint or asbestos, previous repairs or additions, mold or water damage, pest issues, drainage problems, foundation cracks, problems with HVAC and other appliances, and if the roof is leaky. 

• If you think there might be a problem, say possible mold in the crawlspace, have an inspector come and have a look.  It’s better to be safe than sorry here. 
• While you’re going over the disclosure form, if you’re not sure if you should report something, report it anyway.  It’s best to err on the side of caution. 
• Have the disclosure ready before you’ve accepted an offer for your own protection. 
• Your listing agent will be aware of all government disclosure requirements–federal, state, and local–so be prepared to report all that these laws ask of you. 

Disclosure and the Buyer 

• Once you receive the disclosure statement, go over it carefully and ask questions if you’re not sure about anything listed, because you must sign the disclosure. 
• The extra expense of having an official inspection done on the house is vital to this part of the sale.  Have the disclosure form information with you when you meet the inspector at the house, so you can go over the problem places with a pro. 
• In the case of any additions to the home, check the local government building permit and zoning information to make sure the addition was done the legal way by licensed people. 
• If you have any issues with the seller’s answers on the disclosure statement, and don’t want to make the repairs, and can’t come to an agreement with the seller, it may be best to walk away and look for another house. 

• Once you are satisfied with the disclosure and have the peace of mind that the sale should go through, sign off on the disclosure. 

A disclosure should be a seller’s protection plan, and smart sellers will be completely honest, and maybe even over-disclose.  Also, be aware that some states even ask sellers to disclose things like traffic noise, and even paranormal activity!  Your Realtor will know everything you need to provide to buyers, so the sale of your home goes smoothly.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Photo credit: Nestiny.com

Things To Do Orlando:  3rd Thursday Gallery Hop gives you a chance to appreciate local art.

Join thousands of visitors who converge in Downtown Orlando for 3rd Thursday Orlando’s Gallery Hop, Tech Meetup and Business Networking events!

VISIT THE FOLLOWING VENUES:
Aloft Orlando Downtown 500 S Orange Ave.
Canvs 101 S. Garland Ave. #108
CityArts Factory 29 S Orange Ave.
The Kiene Quigley Community Gallery:
Gallery 29:
The Orlando Magic Gallery:
Star Gallery:
Redefine:
Young Artists Gallery, presented by Artegon Marketplace:
O Gallery: “O” Gallery features resident artists Vickie Wilson, Donna Dowless, Dlynn Roll, Roberto Gonzalez, Pamela Loudon, Ronda Richley, Bernie Martin, Nestor Charneco, Mercedes Charneco and Doug Powell.
The Falcon Bar & Gallery 819 E Washington St.
Gallery at Avalon Island 39 S Magnolia Ave.
Grand Bohemian Gallery 325 S Orange Ave.
NV Art Bar 27 E Pine St.
Art Haus Drogue, opens at 6 p.m.
Orange County Library 101 E Central Blvd.
Terrace Gallery/City Hall 400 S, Orange Avenue
Orlando Tech Meetup Church Street Exchange, 101 South Garland Ave

WHEN:  Thursday, August 18 @ 6pm
WHERE:  Downtown Arts District – 29 South Orange Avenue

Visit the Event Website for more details.

Information courtesy of Orlando Real Estate Expert Teri Isner and the Orlando Avenue Top Team.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website. Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale. You deserve professional real estate service!

You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently. You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!