CHICAGO — The Labor Day forecast calls for lots of sunshine and warm temperatures, so lather on the SPF one more time while you enjoy the unofficial last weekend of summer.
Then recycle those empty sunscreen bottles instead of tossing them in the trash or, worse, littering the beach.
A couple of pro tips from Chicago Recycling By City:
• Remove the nozzle before recycling a spray bottle of sunscreen. Nozzles should be thrown in the trash — they contain a mix of plastic and metal that can't be recycled. Caps, on the other hand, are recyclable when attached to the bottle.
• Make sure aerosol cans are completely empty before recycling. Seriously. Completely empty. Otherwise, whatever pressurized gas remains could explode when the can is crushed. How do you know if your can is empty? Press the nozzle. If it doesn't make a sound, it's safe to recycle.
• Use it, don't lose it. Check your sunscreen's expiration date. Maximum shelf life is approximately three years, so yours might still be useful.
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