Recycling for Dummies
An easy flowchart guide to simplify recycling decisions
Navigating the realm of recycling can be very difficult because many people don’t know which materials to recycle and which to trash.
Many people who try to recycle end up causing more harm. According to daytonohio.gov, “when non-recyclable items are found in a recycling container, the recycling truck leaves the container, and a waste collection truck is dispatched to empty it. Unfortunately, recyclable items in that same container will end up in the landfill rather than being recycled and reused”.
For this reason, you must know precisely when to recycle, compost, and trash. The flowchart below helps map out the questions you should ask yourself before deciding when to recycle.
Paper, cardboard and plastic are the most recycled materials. Here are some extra tips for them and their respective flowchart snippet.
Paper: The rule of thumb with paper is that it is usually recyclable. Still, if it has a lamination, it is not recyclable. An example of a paper with lamination is gift wrap. They typically have a lamination making them non-recyclable. You should purchase gift wrap made of recyclable materials. Furthermore, a newspaper is an excellent alternative to gift wrap and can be recycled. Another example is paper coffee cups usually have a wax layer, which means they are not recyclable. Shredded paper sometimes needs to be recycled; it depends on your area.
Cardboard: The rule with cardboard is it is recyclable, but when recycling, make sure to flatten it. Pizza boxes can recycle with grease, but remove as much food as possible. If contaminated with food, takeout boxes cannot go to the recycling bin, whether paper or cardboard. Still, if it is “spatula-clean,” it can be recycled. Lastly, books are recyclable, but try donating before recycling. When you recycle hardcover books, remove the cover, then recycle the book; you can recycle paperback books immediately.
Plastics: According to phys.org, “Only 5% to 6% of the 46 million tons of plastic waste generated annually in the U.S. gets recycled, a big dip from the last estimate of nearly 9% just a few years ago, according to a new study by two environmental groups focused on creating awareness around plastic pollution”. Many plastics widely thought of as recyclable might not be in actuality. For example, only a few communities accept styrofoam in your curbside recycling. Still, you can drop it off at other locations; you can use Earth911 to find any material and where you can drop it off. Moreover, items like plastic bags/wraps cannot be recycled in your household bin. Still, many grocery stores accept these materials; Earth911 can be a great tool if they don’t. The rule with plastics is if you can poke your finger through the plastic, it can’t go into your household bin. It needs to go in the trash, or see if you can recycle it anywhere else.
According to statista.com, “By 2050, worldwide municipal solid waste generation is expected to have increased by roughly 70 per cent to 3.4 billion metric tons. This is due to a number of factors, such as population growth, urbanization, and economic growth, as well as consumer shopping habits”. The amount of waste is growing exponentially, meaning we have to exponentially increase our ability to redistribute our waste in the right place. In 2023, I aim to enable all of us to recycle 100% of our waste.
Recycling Links Mentioned:
