How to Recycle Right
We are recycling the wrong way. When you finish your bag of chips and you are left with that colored,
flexible, bag with pictures of those salty, cut potatoes you are left with a small dilemma.
How do you get rid of this bag?
You have three options.
Number one, throw it in the trash, leaving you with a couple of seconds of regret.
You know it is bad, so you want to change your ways.
Bringing us to option number 2, recycling.
You see that blue bucket with that arrowed triangle. You feel that positivity, you feel that happiness, that earth-caring responsibility.
Having that influx of dopamine will opt you to throw your oily plastic bag into the recycling.
But you just made a grave mistake.
You have caused a huge problem down the line for the recycling facility that will sort the contents of that blue bin. An issue that will probably
lead the facility to get tired of this annoyance and dispose of your chip bag improperly. Even though you thought you helped the earth by putting
your bag in the recycling bin, you actually made it easier for that bag to end up drifting in the Pacific Ocean, probably on it’s way to suffocate
a baby seal. Yes, I know, it's sad. But these are the issues we are trying to avoid and it is important that we recognize them. Oh yeah, I said three
options right. Well, the third option is to eat the bag. But, we’re not going there.
To be clear, you cannot put every type of plastic and paper in the recycling bin. There are actually a lot of types that cannot be processed by recycling facilities.
Don’t worry we have listed out a whole load of common items that you should and should not recycle.
1. Plastic Wrap
What: It is the stuff that wraps your vegetables, meats, and cheeses when you buy it off the shelves in the grocery store.
It cannot be recycled through regular residential recycling.
Why: It is not easily dealt with at the material recovery facility ( MRF). The MRF is a giant warehouse-like building that
takes the recyclable waste that you throw away and sorts it into what can and cannot be recycled. The plastic wrap’s thin film often gets
caught in MRF separating equipment and it just becomes a huge hassle. Another reason is that the structure of these cling wraps is made up
of chemicals that are difficult to remove during the recycling process.
Solution:Instead of using cling wrap, use freezer paper at home. And when you get your favorite meat cut, ask the butcher for
freezer paper. Or, bring reusable containers instead.
2. Small Plastics
What: Plastics that are 3 inches or smaller. For example, pill packages, single-use condiment pouches, plastic tampon applicators, bag clips, and more.
These pieces cannot get recycled.
Why: These small pieces get stuck into the gears and the machinery at the recycling facilities and end up being treated as trash anyway.
Solution:Watch out for these plastic pieces and do not buy or use products that have them. Try to avoid them. However, if you do find yourself with a lot of
small plastic pieces, try to reuse them somehow. Try your best to divert them from the landfill.
3. Flexible Packaging
What: The type of plastic that is as thin as paper, but you cannot tear it because it is plastic. It is found wrapped around plastic bottles and makes
up almost any type of plastic bag packaging. They make up your chip and Tide Pod Bags, your drinkable applesauce packs, and the wrap around your mother’s day flowers.
They are everywhere , AND THEY ARE NOT RECYCLABLE.
Why: This type of plastic has a hard time at the MRF because it ends up being sorted into the paper bin by accident and causes the whole bale of paper to be unusable.
Also, for plastic that is attached to aluminum, like in potato chip bags, it is not possible to separate the layers and capture the desired resin. The lamination effect on these bags
creates a huge problem when recycling companies are trying to separate the unusable plastic from the usable kind.
Solution:The solution to fix this issue is to buy items in bulk. This way, there will be less plastic packaging per quantity of goods. Another option is to not buy these
items at all. Look for items with paper packaging or packaging that is not plastic heavy.
4. Deodorant Containers
What: The oval-like plastic containers that hold your deodorant are not recyclable through most residential recycling services. However, check with your local recycling service to make sure.
Why: There are too many parts to deodorant containers. From the scrolling dial on the bottom to the cap on the top, there are often up to four or five different types of plastic in each
deodorant container. And besides, most of the time consumers do not end up getting all of the deodorant out of the container anyway.
Solution:There are mail recycling companies such as Terracycle that do recycle these containers. There are also plenty of deodorants for both men and women that come in recyclable packaging.
And another benefit is that these products usually have clean and vegan ingredients that are safer for the skin.
Native Plastic Free Deodorant
5. Beverage Containers
What: The plastic bottles that your drinks come in. THEY ARE RECYCLABLE. As plastic bottles make up ⅓ of what is often found polluted in natural habitats, this is a recyclable good that we are not recycling enough!
Always make sure that you dispose of your plastic bottle into a nearby recycling bin. Otherwise, it may become the murder weapon for a dolphin’s death. However, it is important to note that
you have to take off the plastic film label, it is not recyclable. However, check with your local facility to know whether or not they want the cap on the bottle or not.
Why: The plastic that plastic bottles are made out of are firm and they won’t get stuck in various machines. This is why you cannot include the label, because it is flexible packaging,
of which the implications were described earlier.
Solution: Don’t use plastic bottles in the first place! Always keep a reusable bottle with you so you do not have to worry about single-use plastic waste.
Recycle plastic bottles! But make sure you take off the label and check with your local facility if you should or should not keep the cap on the bottles.
6. Other Bottles
What: This category includes ketchup bottles, cleaning supply bottles, plastic food containers, etc. These are recyclable, but remember to rinse out the insides before you put it into the bin.
Check with your local MRF about the caps. If there are any metal parts in the container, they should be removed to.
you have to take off the plastic film label, it is not recyclable. However, check with your local facility to know whether or not they want the cap on the bottle or not.
Why: Just like the plastic beverage containers, these plastic bottles are also made of the harder plastic that can be separated easily by MRFs.
Solution: Recycle and use these bottles correctly. Go ahead, put it in the bin.
7. Plastic Clamshells
What: Those plastic containers that have a plastic lid attached as well. These are usually used to hold take out, salads, sandwiches, cupcakes, etc. Even though there is a
general rule that hard plastics are recyclable, not every residential recycler can process the clamshell plastics.
Why: The plastic clamshell is molded in a particular way that makes it really difficult to recycle. So, some residential recyclers recycle them and others do not. Even though there
may be that triangle ingrained into the plastic, it does not mean that it is recyclable
Solution:To avoid these clamshell plastics, you can bring your own containers to the salad bars and bakeries, or wherever else that you may need to use clamshells for plastic packaging.
When you are buying items that are already stored in the plastic clamshell, you can also bring your own container and just ask to have it transferred into your reusable container.
8. Yogurt and Butter Tubs
What: The plastic containers that your Chobani yogurt, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Daisy Sour Cream, etc. come in. These are called #5 plastics. This means that in your recycling triangle there is a little 5.
These are usually recyclable, but make sure that you clean out the containers before you put them into the recycling bin.
Why:Sometimes these containers are made up of mixed plastics, so they can be difficult to recycle. However, most of the time, residential recycling programs do accept them to be recycled.
Solution: In these situations, using the plastic is a little tough to avoid. It is not like you can just scoop out the yogurt out of a container in a grocery store and put it in your own container, no you have to keep
it in the container that it comes in. So, if you cannot recycle residentially, another option is to reuse. These containers can hold anything you need and can be washed and used over and over again. And if you do need to dispose of them,
there is a company called Preserve running a program called Gimme 5, where you can mail your #5 plastics and they will turn them into toothbrushes and other products.
Preserve Program
9. Polystyrene Foam
What: This plastic is styrofoam. It is what egg cartons are made out of and are usually included in your meat packaging. These are not recyclable unless there is a drop off location in your area.
Why:To condense this foam, a special machine is required. Then this material can be turned into a patty or a block that can be resold. However, when the material is condensed, not a lot of material remains and it is not very valuable.
Solution: Even though it is not residentially recyclable, there are many styrofoam drop-off sites in many communities.
You can find one here:
Find a Styrofoam Drop-Off Site
More ways to avoid styrofoam:
- When you go out to dinner bring your own takeout containers
-Refuse styrofoam cups whenever possible. Reusable Cups are the way ! :).
-Avoid styrofoam egg cartons.
-Ask your grocery store to not use styrofoam trays for produce and meat.
10. Plastic Bags and Wrappers
What: Plastic Bags include those used for bread, newspapers, and cereal box liners, sandwich bags, dry cleaning bangs, and grocery bags. However, thicker plastic wrapping, like that of must grocery plastic bags
and what is used for paper towels and toilet paper, can be taken back to most major grocery chains like Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, and more.
Why:The thinner plastic bags are not recyclable because of the thin film that the plastic is. This poses a great issue for the machinery at the recycling plants. However, the thicker plastic can be taken back to most
major grocery chains and will then be converted into material that is used for decking.
Solution: The most obvious solution to avoid these plastic bags is to always take them to the plastic drop-off sites in your area. Then, replace any regular single-use plastic bag with a reusable option.
This includes reusable grocery bags, reusable lunch pacs, and reusable dry cleaning bags.
Wanna learn more?
Visit the sources:
NPR Recycling Plastic Interactive
How2Recycle Website
NPR Plastic Tide Page