You are closing the loop when you purchase products made from recycled content.
Look for the symbol on packaging that signifies that a product contains recycled material.
Look for the type and the amount of recycled content in anything that you buy. Post-consumer recycled content is discarded material generated by households and commercial, industrial, and/or institutional facilities. It is material that no longer can be used for its intended purpose.
Pre-consumer recycled content is material diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process so it doesn't end up in the landfill.
Click here to check it out (provided by the CalRecycle).
There are several online locations to find out about purchasing recycled items: