Recycling is a great way to reduce waste, but not everything goes in the recycling bin. Throwing the wrong items into recycling can contaminate the batch and even damage recycling equipment. To make sure your efforts are effective, it’s important to know which everyday items should be placed in your recycling bin. Here are some surprising items you should never recycle at home:
1. Plastic bags and film: a tangled mess
Although it is common to think that plastic can be recycled, it is best to keep plastic bags and film out of your curbside bin. These lightweight materials can easily become entangled in recycling machinery, causing costly delays and equipment failures. Plastic bags, bubble wrap, and plastic packaging can wreak havoc on the recycling process.
Instead, take your plastic bags to a designated recycling bin at many grocery stores. This program is designed to process soft plastics. To further reduce plastic waste, switch to reusable shopping bags and storage containers whenever possible.
2. Shredded paper: too small to be recycled
Paper is a commonly recycled material, but shredded paper cannot be disposed of in curbside bins. These small pieces are difficult to sort at recycling facilities and often end up contaminating other recycled materials such as glass and plastic.
If you have a lot of shredded paper, consider composting it instead, or see if your local recycling facility accepts it in separate bags. Better yet, go digital whenever possible and use electronic documents to reduce paper waste, thereby reducing the need for shredding.
3. Diapers and sanitary products: Not recyclable
Sanitary products such as used diapers, pads, and tampons are another category that should never be placed in the recycling bin. These items contain waste and are made of multiple layers of materials that cannot be separated or processed at recycling plants.
Although these products are essential, they should be disposed of in your regular trash can. If you want a more sustainable option, consider reducing waste by switching to menstrual products like reusable cloth diapers, menstrual cups, and washable cloth pads.
4. Oily food containers: disguised contaminants
Pizza boxes, takeout containers, and food packaging stained with oil or grease should not be placed in the recycling bin. Even if they are made from recyclable materials like paper or cardboard, food scraps can contaminate the recycling stream and render the materials unusable.
Make sure there are no food particles or residue before throwing the container into the trash. It is recommended that you thoroughly clean recyclable containers and dispose of containers that cannot be cleaned in the trash. For pizza boxes, consider tearing off the clean top to recycle and throwing the greasy bottom in the trash.
5. Snack Wrappers: Not as Recyclable as They Look
Shiny snack bags and candy wrappers may seem recyclable, but they are actually made of mixed materials such as plastic and metal that do not separate easily. This makes recycling impossible for most curbside programs.
Instead of throwing snack wrappers in the trash, reduce your use of disposable snack packaging by buying snacks in bulk and storing them in reusable containers. Some specialized recycling programs also accept certain types of packaging, so check local options if you’re looking to recycle difficult-to-handle materials.
6. Broken glassware and ceramics: No curbside recycling.
It may be tempting to toss broken glass or old ceramics in your recycling bin, but these items cannot be recycled along with regular glass jars and bottles. Glassware, light bulbs, mirrors and ceramics cannot be processed together with recycled glass because they have different chemical compositions.
Instead, dispose of broken glass safely by wrapping it in newspaper or putting it in a box and disposing of it in the trash. If your glassware or china is still in good condition, give it a second life by donating it to a thrift store or giving it away for free online.
7. Popcorn kernels and bags: The secret problem
Leftover unpopped popcorn kernels can also cause problems at recycling facilities. Small, hard pellets can damage recycling equipment, and many bags of microwave popcorn contain materials that cannot be recycled.
To avoid the hassle, throw the unpopped kernels in the trash or, if organic, in the compost. To reduce waste, choose air-popped popcorn with bulk kernels, or ensure that used popcorn bags are thrown in the trash rather than the recycling bin.
Special Recycling Programs: Expanding Your Options
Although many items cannot be recycled through curbside bins, special recycling programs are emerging to handle hard-to-recycle materials. From electronics to certain types of plastic and snack wrappers, these programs offer a more sustainable way to dispose of items that might otherwise end up in the trash.
Many major brands and companies have begun taking back used products for proper recycling or repurposing. Investigating local or postal specialty recycling options can help you minimize your waste output and properly dispose of even difficult items.
The importance of recycling rights
Recycling may seem simple, but you need to carefully consider what’s in your bin. Contaminating your recycling stream with inappropriate items can result in more waste and damage to your recycling facility’s equipment. By learning which common household items are better left in the trash or disposed of through a professional recycling program, you can ensure that more materials are successfully processed and reused.
Check your local recycling guidelines for specific rules, and remember that reducing waste at the source through reusable items can have a much bigger impact than recycling alone.
Check local guidelines
What is your experience? How often do you check your local recycling guidelines to make sure you’re recycling correctly? What steps can we take to reduce our dependence on non-recyclable, single-use products? Have you ever been surprised to learn that something you thought was recyclable is actually not? How have your recycling habits changed?
