Is this really getting recycled? Do I need to wash it out first? Does paper mean all things made of trees? - therefore my snotty tissue can go in the recycle bin, along with every tiny piece of paper, like receipts? What about plastic, as in plastic bags, wrapping or packaging??
I don't know about you guys, but these are the questions I have asked myself over time, and a little research has helped clear things up for me, so I thought I'd share!
Tip #1 When in Doubt, Throw it Out
This one was hard for me to swallow, because when in doubt, I'd resort to recycling it. But I have learned that this can do more harm than good(see link to Closet Environmentalist, she seems to be an expert in waste management). Apparently, the first stage of the sorting process for recycling is done by hand. So if there is anything on the top of the bin that you thought should be recycled, but it in fact isn't recyclable, it could lead to the whole pile being discarded! So when in doubt, throw it out. This will avoid wasting an entire pile of perfectly good, recyclable materials, underneath the item in question, from getting trashed.
Tip #2 Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
Some of us stick with the basic plastic bottle/glass bottle recycling method, while others (guilty as charged!) are recycling fanatics and take it overboard, trying to recycle everything little thing that might make a difference. I will call myself out here and say that, although this is sweet and well-intentioned and all, it is pretty much unnecessary. So I've discovered. According to the experts, the sorting process -especially for paper- blasts out most of the smaller pieces in the sift and trashes them. Therefore, tissues, napkins, receipts and all the tiny bits of tree you tried to save aren't (unfortunately) being added to the pile. Phone books, stacks of office paper, cardboard boxes, etc can all happily be recycled though- so don't give up on paper! However, plastics, like wrapping and bits of packaging, are also pointless to try and recycle. Again, stick to the bulk of plastic bottles, cartons, grocery bags and condiment/produce tubs. But most importantly make sure they have the plastic codes, featured in the picture below. #1 and #2 are the best to recycle.
Tip #3 Cleanliness is Godliness.er.Recyclable-ness?
Relating to Plastic and Paper only, (because glass containers are processed at such high temperatures that they don't need to be cleaned), but if it's plastic or paper and it's dirty/greasy it won't even be considered. For non-greasy items, give it a rinse. But for plastic jars in contact with oil, like peanut butter jars or plastic salad dressing bottles, I recommend a good scrub to try and remove all residue. This one is a toss up though - Some say it's a waste of time and you should just conserve water and trash them because of the grease contamination. Pizza boxes and grease soaked papers fall in this category too. Contaminated, therefore non-recyclable!
Tip #4 One World, Many Recycling Programs
Every area has a different set of recycling standards, as in whether the city recycles at all or how many different types of items they recycle. Check your local recycling program for a better idea of what's collected/accepted in your area. I'd love to eventually provide a map with links to recycling guides per city..but this is a bit ambitious...maybe one day(or month) when I have a lot of time! For now, Google works wonders. Google: Recycle Guide______(your city/county).
Check it Out: http://www.obviously.com/recycle/guides/common.html
I thought this general consumer guide was really helpful and also highlighted the great point of checking bottles/packaging before you even buy products, to see if they are easily recyclable by what code they use(again the picture above). This makes your process much easier and helps you shop wisely buy only choosing brands that are up with the times and doing business with the Earth in mind!
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