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5 Common Items Recycled Improperly
November 15 is National Recycling Day—an annual reminder of how recycling helps keep our world clean and sustainable. Unfortunately, many items end up in the bin that shouldn’t be there, whether by accident or habit. To help make your recycling efforts more eco-friendly and effective, we’ve highlighted five common items recycled improperly and provided simple tips to ensure you’re disposing of items correctly.
Plastic Bottles
Let’s start with properly recycling plastic bottles since not all are made the same. At Absopure, all of our single-serve water bottles are 100% recyclable, and our Eco-Pak™ bottles are not only recyclable—they’re made with 25% recycled plastic! When recycling plastic bottles like water, soda, or juice, check the bottom or side of the bottle to determine the type of plastic. Plastic bottles labeled #1 (PET) or #2 (HDPE) are accepted in curbside recycling carts, while containers labeled #3, #4, #6, or #7 are not. Make sure the bottle is empty, clean, and dry, and put the cap back on tightly to ensure it doesn’t fall off during the sorting process and end up in a landfill.
As one of the first bottled water companies to recycle its own plastic bottles over 35 years ago, Absopure has been a leader in establishing eco-friendly practices. By partnering with our recycling affiliate, Clean Tech, we can reuse the material from our plastic bottles, keeping 8 billion bottles out of landfills annually.
Plastic Bags
Stretchy plastic bags and wraps cause a lot of trouble at recycling plants as they can get stuck in machines and recycling equipment. This is a big hassle, requiring workers to shut down and remove plastics from their machines, an action that costs time and money.
An environmentally safe option that prevents those pesky plastic bags from wrapping around machines can be found at your local retailer. Many national and smaller retailers have collection bins for plastic bags near their front entrances. Next time you’re heading to the grocery store, call ahead to make sure they accept or collect certain plastic bags. If they do, consider recycling the following items:
- Grocery bags
- Bread bags
- Sandwich bags
- Zipper bags
- Newspaper bags
Bringing these bags to a store can help keep your local recycling facility running smoothly. Every little bit makes a difference!
Pizza Boxes
While pizza boxes are technically recyclable, there are important elements to consider. The presence of oil, grease, cheese, and crumbs can lead to contamination, making it difficult for recycling plants to process them. While a little grease is usually fine, removing any excess cheese and crumbs is critical before tossing a pizza box in the recycling bin. Fortunately, 82% of Americans have access to recycling programs that accept pizza boxes. However, if your box is extra greasy, it’s a good idea to check with your local recycling company to confirm it’s recyclable.
Did you know around 3 billion pizza boxes are used annually in the United States? That’s a lot of cardboard!
Disposable Coffee Cups
Similar to plastic bags, understanding what is and isn’t recyclable is crucial for disposable coffee cups. Unfortunately, the plastic lining and coffee residue make these cups non-recyclable, including the cup and the lid. But there’s a silver lining! If your coffee cup comes with a cardboard sleeve, that is recyclable.
Pro tip: Bring a reusable coffee mug or cup to your local coffee shop and fill that up rather than a disposable coffee cup.
Styrofoam
Styrofoam and foam plastic items should never be placed in curbside recycling bins. The brittle nature of styrofoam packaging often breaks or crumbles, clogging recycling machines. To combat this, research locations near you that accept styrofoam and foam plastic items.
Post offices, recycling plants, and other locations reuse these materials and collect them so they’re recycled properly. While heading to these locations is slightly more time-consuming, it’s an important step to recycle styrofoam safely and sustainably.
Napkins & Paper Towels
A common misconception is that paper products such as paper towels, plates, and napkins are always recyclable. Here’s the surprise: there are times when paper is non-recyclable! When determining if your paper is recyclable, consider the quality of the paper and its potential contaminants.
High-quality paper, such as writing or printing paper, contains fibers that make it easily recyclable. In contrast, lower-quality products that lack these fibers, such as napkins or tissues, are non-recyclable. Like pizza boxes, these lower-quality paper products are often covered with things that prevent them from being recyclable, such as wax, staples, or food. If you have contaminated paper products, a best practice is to throw them in the garbage rather than recycle them.
Avoid getting caught off guard by these five common items recycled improperly. Taking the necessary steps to recycle items correctly contributes to making the world safer and more sustainable—and at Absopure, we’re always looking for ways to be more eco-friendly! Learn more about our commitment to sustainability in celebration of National Recycling Day.
