Why Should I Recycle?
By: Matthew Tirona
Tags: Recycling, Climate Science, Plastic, Waste, Environment

Why Should I Recycle?

The Ultimate Guide To Recycling

Photo By Morning Brew on Unsplash

How Recycling Helps The Economy

A linear economy is an economy where resources are used once and then dumped somewhere else. However, with a linear economy, we will eventually run out of resources. By recycling, we can transition to a circular economy, an economy where resources are used and reused over and over again. However, recycling is not as easy as it seems. Depending on where you live, certain materials are recyclable and certain materials are not.

Before You Recycle Anything…

Make sure to wash and dry any non-paper recyclables. Any non-recyclable contaminates (like food), can cause batches of perfectly recyclable materials to go to landfills. Always check the recycling symbol for the plastic, paper, or glass type, and verify that your recycling program accepts that type of material.

What Plastics Types Are/Aren't Recyclable?

(1) Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE)

Plastic water bottles are usually made from PETE. PETE products should be recycled however they should not be reused. Substituting reusable water bottles for plastic water bottles can help reduce your PETE waste.

(2) High-density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Milk jugs and detergent bottles are made from HDPE. HDPE is the most common and safest type of plastic. HDPE can be both recycled and reused. However, only 30% to 35% of HDPE is recycled, so try to use as little HDPE as possible.

(3) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Clear plastic wrap and similar products are made from PVC. PVC products are not recyclable nor reusable. PVC contains dangerous toxins and should not be given to children. Because PVC is not recyclable, reducing usage is the only way to reduce PVC waste. Substitute plastic wrap for reusable beeswax plastic wrap.

(4) Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Squeezable bottles, packaged bread plastic bags, and plastic grocery bags are all made from LDPE. LDPE is usually safe to use, but it is not generally recyclable. However, you should check your local community recycling program to see if they accept LDPE plastics. To reduce LDPE waste, use paper or cloth grocery bags instead of LDPE plastic bags.

(5) Polypropylene (PP)

Plastic bottle caps, yogurt containers, chip bags, straws, and packaging tape are made from PP. PP can be reused, but it is not always recyclable. To reduce PP consumption, substitution plastics straws and bottles for reusable ones.

(6) Polystyrene (PS)

Foam drinking cups, plastic egg cartons, plastic utensils, and packing peanuts are made from PS. PS is not safe and may leach styrene, especially when microwaved. PS is usually not accepted by recycling programs, so it should be avoided whenever possible. To reduce PS waste, opt for reusable coffee cups and utensils.

(7) Other types of plastic

Type 7 plastics are for other plastics that don’t fit in with types 1 through 6. BPA is considered type 7 plastic. Type 7 plastics are not reusable nor recyclable. You should avoid all type 7 plastics products, especially products for children.

What Paper Items Are/Aren’t Recyclable?

Paper makes up 40% of landfill waste. Always try to recycle (or compost) your paper when possible.

Are Recyclable:

Printer Paper

Cardboard

Paper Books (usually)

Magazines (usually)

Junk Mail (remove personal information first)

Paper Shreds (sometimes)

Are Not Recyclable:

Pizza Boxes

Paper Coffee Cups

Donut Boxes

Paper Plates

Strongly Dyed Paper

Paper Towels/Napkins/Tissues (even unused)

Receipts

Composting Paper

Another way to divert paper from the trash is to compost it. Almost all paper products can be composted, even if they are tainted with food. However, waxed paper, receipts, and very greasy paper cannot be composted.

What Other Items Are/Aren’t Recyclable

Are Recyclable:

Soap Bottles/Pumps

Shampoo Bottles

Milk Jugs

Fruit Containers (most of the time)

Beverage/Condiment Bottles

Peanut Butter Containers/Jars

Salsa Jars

Glass Bottles/Jars

Are Not Recyclable:

Lids/Bottle Caps (there are some that are recyclable)

Hazardous or Medical Waste

Styrofoam (there are some programs for styrofoam though)

Plastic Utensils/Straws

Aerosol Cans

Plastic Bags/Plastic Wrap/Bubble Wrap

Shredded Paper (if contains credits cards, receipts, etc.)

What About Aluminum Foil?

Aluminum is a material that can be recycled over and over again, without losing its quality. Aluminum cans are easy to recycle, but aluminum foil is trickier.

How To Recycle Aluminum Foil?

Before recycling aluminum foil, check to see if your local recycling program accepts aluminum foil, and in what condition.

Clean and Crush

Before you can recycle aluminum foil, you have to clean it. Get rid of any crumbs are food, and wash it in room temperature water. However, if there are burnt cheeses or sauces, it is not recyclable. Small sheets of aluminum foil should be crushed into a ball. Recycle the ball when it is has a two-inch diameter. Tiny balls of aluminum foil can damage the recycling machinery.

What About E-Waste?

E-waste is defined as unused or discarded electronics/electronic devices. These electronics cannot be thrown away in the garbage because they can harm the environment. There are many alternatives to throwing away e-waste.

Your Local Community Recycling Program

Depending on where you live, your local community recycling could accept e-waste. Make sure to check their website to see if they accept your used electronics.

Sell Your E-Waste

Decluttr is a great website to sell used tech. Many stores will also accept or buy e-waste. By selling your e-waste you can help the environment and make a little money.

Reuse/Refurbish It

If you have used phones that still work, you can give or sell them to relatives and friends. Used phones can also be refurbished so that they have the same quality as a brand new phone.

The Takeaway

In general, never recycle anything unless you are 100% sure it is recyclable. Contaminates can ruin perfectly good batches of recyclable materials. Always remember: “When in doubt, throw it out.” By recycling, we can help transition are linear economy to a circular economy, and ultimately protect our future.