Nine Mistakes Everyone Makes When Recycling Waste
Recycling is a nightmare. We all want to reduce waste —93% of Americans support recycling —but in the real world, many/most people don’t actually know what is and isn’t recyclable. So we throw all the empty bottles, cans and cardboard boxes in the bin and hope for the best. This is known as the “wish cycle” and it’s a bad idea.
Mixing recyclables and garbage sent to landfill complicates the sorting process; it can contaminate otherwise useful recyclable material or even break down the equipment that makes recycling possible. But don’t blame yourself for not understanding what to recycle; it’s not easy.
The difficulty of recycling plastic
Recycling plastic is incredibly difficult. A triangular label that you might assume indicates that “this item is recyclable” doesn’t actually mean that. The number inside the triangle also doesn’t tell you whether it’s recyclable. It designates the type of resin a piece of plastic is made from, and it will give you a good idea of recyclability, but there is no universal rule. For example, most items labeled #1 or #2 (your water bottles and detergent containers) can be placed in the blue bin, but not all #2 items are the same. For example, your municipal recycling program does not require a trash bag, regardless of its number.
Some plastics, such as #6 polystyrene, can be recycled, but generally not because it is not economically feasible. Some plastics, such as polyvinyl chloride (No. 3), may even be harmful to recycle. Some plastics, such as low-density polyethylene (No. 4), are recyclable, but whether your local recycling program wants them in the trash depends on where you live. You get the idea: it’s a mess. Check out this table for a more detailed explanation of what each number means.
Ultimately, reducing waste is a systemic challenge, not an individual one, but until the rest of the world starts enacting stricter laws like California’s recent plastic bag ban , the best a conscientious citizen can do is try to navigate the system that we have. as best they can. To help, I’ve compiled a list of nine common recycling mistakes. That’s not all, but it’s a start.
Not knowing the recycling rules where you live.
It’s difficult to give any specific recycling advice because different municipalities have different recycling rules, and some types of materials are accepted in some cities but not others, so don’t assume there are any general rules about what to recycle. recycling are applicable to your specific location.
What to do instead: Do your research. The Earth911 Recycling Database is a good general resource with a searchable database by zip code, but your best bet is to visit your local government website to find out exactly what to put in your recycling bin.
Ignoring the “reduce and reuse” part of “reduce, reuse and recycle”
There’s a reason “recycling” is the last part of the saying. Reduce and reuse are more effective in minimizing waste and are also easier to understand.
What to do instead : Whether you bring your own bags to the grocery store or buy groceries in bulk rather than individually, you can plan ways to reduce the amount of waste you produce in your daily life. Reusing can mean washing cans and using them as drinking glasses (cool) or turning old t-shirts into rags instead of throwing them away. This is all a hassle, but it will probably make a bigger difference than recycling.
Packing recyclables in a garbage bag
Bin bags are generally not needed by municipal recycling facilities, although many of us use them to pack empty bottles and cans that we put in the recycling bin. Luckily, if you recycle properly, you won’t need a bag.
What to do instead : “Keep it loose,” advises Amy Hammes, recycling specialist at the Burbank Recycling Center. “We ask the public to remove liquids and food debris. If you do it right, you won’t need a bag.”
Don’t break cardboard boxes
Cardboard boxes are usually highly recyclable, but the packaging material that keeps your Amazon purchases safe often isn’t, so don’t throw all the mess in the trash.
What to do instead : Separate the foam, bubble wrap, and any other packaging material from the cardboard. Then place the clean cardboard in the trash. Whether a support material is recyclable depends on what it is made from.
Throwing dirty pizza boxes into the trash bin
Pizza boxes may seem ideal for recycling—it’s a big piece of cardboard that’s tempting to be turned into toilet paper next week—but the grease, cheese and pizza by-products aren’t necessary. Too much grease and oil in recycling facilities can ruin an entire load of recyclables or even damage recycling equipment.
What to do instead : “The safest thing to do is simply tear off the clean side of the pizza box and recycle it,” Hammes says. “If you can’t find a use for the dirty side, such as using it in your landscape for weed control, then just throw it in the trash.”
Throw the plastic film into the trash bin
Plastic packaging highlights the challenge of recycling around 2024. It’s incredibly common and many can be recycled, but most municipalities don’t accept them in curbside recycling bins. General household trash such as plastic wrap used to cover other groceries, dry cleaning bags, bread bags, sandwich bags, freezer bags, grocery bags, etc. should not generally be thrown in the trash.
What to do instead: Take your plastic wrap and bags to a recycling center or store that will pick them up. You can find a local store that participates in NexTrex’s plastic packaging recycling program , as long as it’s clean and numbered 2 or 4 .
Throwing dirty plastic in the trash bin
Even if your plastic container qualifies for your local recycling program, don’t throw it in the trash when it’s dirty. “If you leave too much food out, it creates more problems for us because it can create odors and attract rodents,” Hammes says. “If it’s really liquid food, it can get into other materials like paper and that will cause it to become contaminated, and then the paper will become unrecyclable.”
What to do instead: Rinsing and peeling is the best way to recycle, so make sure whatever you recycle is free of food scraps and liquids.
Throw the foam in the trash can
Although it is technically possible to recycle polystyrene foam packaging, such as egg cartons and insulation material, it is rarely done. Styrofoam is a type of polystyrene, number 6 on the plastic scale. In its solid form, polystyrene is used to make plastic cutlery and CD cases. They are also usually not recyclable.
What to do instead : “Expanded polystyrene is a material that is very, very difficult to handle. It is not economically feasible to recycle it, so this material unfortunately has to be thrown in the trash,” Hammes says, “or avoided.” , if you can.”
Recycling milk cartons (possibly)
Milk cartons are something of a question mark; some recycling programs accept them and some do not. “It takes a very established paper mill to accept them. This means that processors have a hard time finding a buyer, and so in some cases, if they can handle it, they will take it, but other processors cannot,” Hammes says.
What to do instead : When it comes to milk cartons, you’ll have to do some research. “It’s best to check with your local city or your waste hauler to see if they can accept it.”