16 Things You’re Probably Recycling Wrong
You probably assume you mastered the art of recycling bottles, cans, cardboard boxes, milk jugs, and many more items years ago. But the truth is, most of us aren’t recycling most items correctly at all. Although recycling seems pretty straightforward, thanks in part to handy helpers like clear recycling labeling on certain products, it’s actually much more complicated than most people realize.
The Problem with Contamination
Many of us assume that paper, plastic, and cardboard goods can all be recycled, but when you dig into the details, it turns out it’s very easy to make mistakes. And odds are pretty high that you’re recycling quite a lot of common items — including paper coffee cups, disposable straws, and pizza boxes — the wrong way. Yes, you read that right: There are wrong ways to recycle. Most of the errors we make in our attempts to recycle items at home cause a problem because they contaminate other recyclable materials. If non-recyclable items wind up in the bin alongside recyclable ones, the entire batch goes to waste and nothing in it can be recycled.
Making Small Mistakes, Big Problems
Making small mistakes — or recycling the wrong items — can wind up unexpectedly sending your waste to the landfill instead of the recycling plant as you’d intended. So, before you drop another item into your recycling bin, find out which all-too-common items you’re probably recycling wrong.
1. Plastic Bags
Plastic bags have long posed an environmental challenge, which is why some states have moved away from them (and so many of us rely on reusable totes now instead). If you do happen to have plastic bags and you’ve been dropping them into your bins at home, that’s a mistake. While plastic bags can be recycled, they shouldn’t be placed in the bin for curbside pickup because these thin, flimsy bags may jam the machines that sort other recycled household goods. Instead, you’ll need to take your plastic bags to a designated recycling location, such as the store you got them from.
2. Paper Coffee Cups
If you’ve been tossing your disposable paper coffee cups from your go-to coffee shop in the recycling bin, you should stop. While these seem recyclable, paper coffee cups often have a subtle plastic inner lining that poses a problem. If that kind of lining is present inside a cup, odds are it can’t be recycled because the plastic can’t be separated from the cup’s other materials. There are some exceptions, though. In select cities, you may actually be able to recycle these cups, so it’s best to check if your city’s recycling programs can handle that plastic lining.
3. Coffee Pods
If you rely on a pod-based coffeemaker to brew your caffeinated beverages, odds are you wind up tossing out a lot of coffee pods. While a lot of people do not think twice before grabbing a Keurig , take note that although K-cups and coffee pods are made with typically recyclable materials like foil and plastic, the pods themselves are not always recyclable. While strides have been made to use recyclable materials for these little pods, they can only be recycled if you remove the foil lid and remove any remaining grounds. And even then, odds are your pods won’t be recycled — often, the pods are too small for recycling facilities to utilize or properly sort.
4. Paper Straws
Paper straws have become popular because they’re supposedly more eco-friendly than their plastic counterparts — but if you’ve been tossing your paper straws in your home recycling bin, odds are you’re making a mistake. Paper straws can’t be recycled through at-home (or curbside) recycling programs. There are a number of reasons for this, including their small size (which poses a challenge for recycling centers and their sorters) and the fact that these straws do tend to degrade as they’re used, which destroys the paper fibers that are needed for recycling.
5. Light Bulbs
If you’ve been tossing your old light bulbs into the recycling bin, you might be making a mistake. While some types of light bulbs, like compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), contain hazardous materials like mercury and can’t be disposed of in the trash, they shouldn’t be tossed in the recycling bin either. Instead, check with your local waste management agency to see if they offer special collection programs for CFLs or other types of light bulbs.
6. Disposable Plastic Utensils
Disposable plastic utensils, like forks, knives, and spoons, are another common item that’s often recycled incorrectly. While they might seem recyclable, these items are often made from a type of plastic that’s not recyclable in most curbside programs. Instead, try to avoid using these items altogether or opt for reusable alternatives.
7. Styrofoam Containers
If you’ve been recycling Styrofoam containers, you might be making a mistake. While some types of Styrofoam can be recycled, many types of Styrofoam containers are actually made from a type of plastic called polystyrene, which is not recyclable. Instead, check with your local waste management agency to see if they offer special collection programs for Styrofoam containers.
8. Plastic Containers with Food Residue
If you’ve been recycling plastic containers with food residue on them, you might be making a mistake. While it might be tempting to just toss the container in the recycling bin, food residue can contaminate other recyclable materials and make them unusable. Instead, make sure to rinse out any food residue before recycling.
9. Shredded Paper
If you’ve been recycling shredded paper, you might be making a mistake. While shredded paper can be recycled, it’s often difficult for recycling facilities to sort and process. Instead, try to avoid shredding paper altogether or opt for a paper shredder that can produce uniform strips.
10. Magazines and Catalogs
If you’ve been recycling magazines and catalogs, you might be making a mistake. While these items seem recyclable, they often contain glossy or coated paper that’s difficult for recycling facilities to process. Instead, check with your local waste management agency to see if they offer special collection programs for these types of materials.
11. Newspaper
If you’ve been recycling newspaper, you might be making a mistake. While newspaper is often recyclable, it’s often mixed with other materials like plastic or cardboard that can contaminate the recycling stream. Instead, try to avoid mixing newspaper with other materials before recycling.
12. Cardboard Boxes with Plastic Windows
If you’ve been recycling cardboard boxes with plastic windows, you might be making a mistake. While the cardboard itself is often recyclable, the plastic windows are not. Instead, try to remove the plastic windows before recycling the cardboard.
13. Pizza Boxes
If you’ve been recycling pizza boxes, you might be making a mistake. While the cardboard itself is often recyclable, the grease and food residue on the box can contaminate other recyclable materials. Instead, try to clean out any grease or food residue before recycling.
14. Aluminum Cans with Lids
If you’ve been recycling aluminum cans with lids, you might be making a mistake. While the cans themselves are often recyclable, the lids are often made from a different type of metal that’s not recyclable. Instead, try to remove the lids before recycling the cans.
15. Glass Bottles with Caps
If you’ve been recycling glass bottles with caps, you might be making a mistake. While the bottles themselves are often recyclable, the caps are often made from a different type of material that’s not recyclable. Instead, try to remove the caps before recycling the bottles.
16. Textiles
If you’ve been recycling textiles like clothing or fabric scraps, you might be making a mistake. While textiles can be recycled, they often require special collection programs or facilities that are not always available. Instead, try to donate or repurpose textiles instead of recycling them.
Conclusion
Recycling seems straightforward, but many of us are making mistakes that end up in the landfill instead of the recycling plant. By knowing which common items you’re probably recycling wrong, you can make a positive impact on the environment and help reduce waste. Remember to always check with your local waste management agency to see what materials are accepted in your recycling program and how to properly prepare them for recycling.
