Bad news: only pastics #1-2 accepted

Recycling Jackson received unfortunate news from Northwest Refuse: they're no longer accepting colored glass or plastics numbered #3-7.

"Due to circumstances beyond our control we are unable to locate a market and are therefore no longer able to accept the above items as recyclable materials," Northwest told us in a letter.

Now they're only accepting clear glass and plastics #1 and #2.

The recycled material market hasn't been kind to recyclers lately.

Northwest tells us that they're working on updating the drop-off site signage to reflect the changes. It was nice when we could say any type of plastic is acceptable for recycling; let's hope we get back to that soon.

Build a Buddhist temple out of 1 million beer bottles

It's true:

Thai monks from the Sisaket province have used over one million recycled glass bottle to construct their Buddhist temple. Mindfulness is at the center of the Buddhist discipline and the dedication and thoughtfulness required to build everything from the toilets to their crematorium from recycled bottles shows what creativity and elbow grease can accomplish.

The monks were able to clean up some of the pollution and make an amazing, and news-worthy, structure that I'm sure looks dazzling on a bright, sunny day.

If Buddhist monks can take a million beer bottles and make a house of worship, is it too much to ask for us to recycle our plastic water bottles? Seriously.

How to: recycle glass

Recycling Jackson accepts glass bottles, as do most of the in-town drop-off sites.

Here are some guidelines, thanks to Better Homes and Gardens, and what to do and not do with your glass.

Do recycle

unbroken food and beverage containers, such as applesauce jars, ketchup bottles, wine and beer bottles.

Don't recycle

baking dishes, ceramics, windows, mirrors, and vases. They're made differently than containers and can contaminate. Donate household goods (like the baking dishes and vases).

Eventually, your recycled glass becomes food containers, tiles, landscaping and fish bowl pebbles, and road surfacing (kind of weird to think about, isn't it?).

Really, we just like the cool shattering sound when you toss a glass bottle in with the rest.