Published Apr 24, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT Jonathon Jachura is a mechanical engineer with over 12 years of HVAC industry experience who specializes in translating complex home systems into practical advice for everyday homeowners. His background spans technical sales and product management for major manufacturers, combined with hands-on experience as a two-time homeowner who has tackled everything from system installations to troubleshooting repairs. Jon focuses on helping readers make confident decisions about their homes through clear, actionable guidance that saves both time and money. I'd been doing it wrong for years. Anything with a chasing arrows symbol went straight into the recycling bin — I didn't think twice about it. The number inside the triangle meant nothing to me. So I started digging into where recycling actually goes once it leaves the curb. What I found wasn't encouraging. A lot of stuff I'd been binning was almost certainly ending up in a landfill.…