Recycling is a vital part of helping our planet. The problem is, that many of us are committing common recycling mistakes; we might be doing more harm than good. A truck full of recycling can be rejected because of people contaminating it with non-recyclable items. Once this happens, the whole lot is sent to a landfill instead of being recycled. To make sure you’re doing the best that you can for the planet, here at Glass Planet we have made a list of common recycling mistakes you should avoid.
1. Leaving Bottle Caps On
When recycling plastic bottles or cartons, always remember to remove the caps before recycling. Leaving them on creates several issues during the recycling process. There are likely to be some liquids left in a bottle that has the cap on, which can complicate the job of recycling machines working based on weight. Also, leaving the caps on are likely to cause issues when the material is pressed together.
2. Items Covered in Food
It’s important to thoroughly rinse items. Glass bottles/jars, water bottles, milk cartons, drink cans, ready-meal aluminum foil trays, and plastic tubs can be recycled. However, if they’re not washed properly, they can contaminate other items such as cardboard or paper, resulting in a whole lot of items ending up in the landfill.
3. Chip Packets
Unfortunately, chip packets, cookie wrappers, and the airtight bags many foods come in are hard to recycle. The composite plastic they’re made from, which keeps the food fresh and airtight, is not recyclable. These items must go into your general waste bin or be taken to your nearest soft-plastic recycling location.
4. Used Napkins
These cannot be recycled and are better to throw away. However, there are napkins you can buy that are made of recycled materials.
5. Plastic Bags
They’re easy to collect, and many people have a lot of them in their homes. Plastic bags can never be thrown in the recycling bin. It’s important to use plastic bags until they can’t be used anymore. Some stores offer recycling of plastic bags, but it depends on your area.
6. Food Waste
Food is another thing that is often thrown in the trash or recycling. Items such as eggshells and peels from fruits/vegetables should be going to a compost rather than a landfill. You could install a compost bin in your garden, or if you don’t have a backyard, many communities have a community garden that collects materials they can use to compost.
7. Old Clothes
Textiles cannot be thrown into the recycling bin. However, there are options to get rid of old clothes. You could sell your clothes on secondhand websites or donate them to a thrift store. If your clothes are in poor condition many cities have areas that collect old clothes and textiles to repurpose them.
8. Not Removing Tape or Plastic
When we receive items from online shopping, most packages come in cardboard boxes. These can be recycled. The problem is that many individuals stick the boxes straight into our recycling thinking we’re doing the right thing for the planet. Before putting any cardboard into the recycling bin, you need to remove all tape and any plastic wallets that might hold something like your invoice; these parts cannot be recycled. You should also remove any plastic windows from envelopes before adding items to your recycling.
Before recycling any items make sure to read which items your recycling company can take in. Many companies have a list of materials on their website that can be recycled. If you’re not sure, never assume an item can be recycled.
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