So You Have A Recycling Cart, Now What?
Congratulations on taking a step towards a more sustainable future by getting yourself a recycling cart! Recycling is a great way to reduce your environmental impact, conserve natural resources, and help divert valuable waste from landfills.
However, having a recycling cart is just the first step. To make a real difference, you need to know how to use it effectively. According to The Recycling Partnership, roughly 25% of recycling items are contaminated due to improper sorting. This costs the U.S. recycling system at least $300 million annually in additional labor, processing, and machinery repairs.
So, in this blog post, I'll guide you through everything you need to know to become a confident, effective recycler. From avoiding common mistakes that many beginners make, to identifying what can and cannot be recycled. (This blog is all you need!)
Disclaimer: Recycling guidelines vary by location. Before you put anything in your recycling bin, check with your local waste management agency or visit their website to see what materials are accepted in your recycling program.
Table Of Contents
Common Recycling Mistakes To Avoid
Fun Fact: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a single non-recyclable item can contaminate a whole load of recyclables, causing an entire load of recycling to be rejected and thrown out!
While recycling is a powerful tool for reducing waste, our current technology and infrastructure still have limits, so not all materials can be recycled. Some common non-recyclable materials include:
- Plastic Bags: These bags often clog the recycling machines, so they are usually not accepted by local recycling programs and should not be placed in your recycling bin.
- Small-Size Plastic (roughly 3 inches or smaller): Small plastic items like straws, lids, and bottle caps can get stuck in the sorting machines at recycling centers. This can delay the recycling process and even damage the equipment.
- Hazardous Materials: Certain items, like batteries, electronics, and chemicals, are considered hazardous materials and should not be placed in your recycling cart.
- Food Contaminated Items: Items like pizza boxes soiled with grease or containers with leftover food can contaminate the recycling stream and are not allowed to be put inside a recycling cart.
Learn about 10 Items That Are Usually Not Recyclable.
Pro Tip: Do not bag your recyclables. When recyclables are bagged, the bags can get caught in the sorting machines at recycling centers. This can cause the machines to jam and break down, which can lead to delays in recycling or even damage the equipment.
Also, if you are not sure whether an item can be recycled, it's always best to check with your local waste management agency. If you don't have time for that, it's better to throw it in the trash than risk it contaminating the entire recycling batch.
Summary: Not everything can be placed in your recycling bin. Items such as plastic bags, small plastics under 3 inches, hazardous materials, and food waste are not recyclable. Also, you should not bag your recyclables. Instead, you should loose-fill your recyclables into your recycling bin.
Photo: © ChrisSteer via Getty Images
What Can You Recycle?
Understanding what can go into your recycling cart is just as important as knowing what can’t. While recycling rules vary by city or county, most curbside programs across the U.S. accept four major categories of materials: plastic, paper, metal, and glass.
These materials are valuable, widely recyclable, and can be transformed into new products multiple times, helping conserve natural resources and reduce landfill waste:
- Plastic: Recycling just 10 plastic bottles saves enough energy to power a laptop for over 25 hours. Items such as plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and lids are all recyclable.
- Paper: This includes newspapers, magazines, junk mail, office paper, cardboard, and paperboard. It is important to remove any staples, clips, or other non-paper materials before placing them in your recycling bin.
- Metal: Another commonly recycled material is metal. Items like aluminum cans, tin cans, and steel cans are all recyclable.
- Glass: Glass containers and jars are 100% recyclable, and you can recycle them endlessly because they don't lose their quality after the recycling process.
Learn about 10 Items That Are Usually Recyclable.
Pro Tip: Rinse out containers and bottles before placing them in your recycling cart to help prevent contamination. Many beginners make the mistake of not properly cleaning or emptying their containers before recycling. This can contaminate other recyclables and may lead to the recyclable not being accepted.
Summary: The 4 most common recyclable materials are paper, plastic, metal, and glass. Again, if you are not sure whether an item can be recycled, check with your local waste management agency.
Photo: © ChrisSteer via Getty Images
How To Recycle?
Now that you know what can and cannot be placed in your recycling bin, here are the 3 easy steps on how to recycle properly by The Central Virginia Waste Management Authority:
- Place all your recyclables inside the cart with the lid closed. This will help to keep your recyclables clean and dry, and it will also make it easier for the recycling trucks to collect them.
- Set your cart at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day. Ensure that your cart is visible from the street and not blocked by parked cars or other objects.
- Leave 3 feet between the recycling cart and parked vehicles or other carts. This will give the recycling trucks enough space to maneuver.
Pro Tip: Flatten all cardboard boxes. Large cardboard boxes can take up a lot of space in your recycling cart. To maximize space and ensure that your boxes are properly processed, take a few minutes to flatten them before you put them in the cart.
Summary: To properly recycle, first place all your recyclables inside the cart with the lid closed. Then, set your cart at the curb by 7 a.m. on the collection day and make sure to leave 3 feet between the recycling cart and parked vehicles or other carts to allow the recycling truck to do its job.
Quick Takeaway
Having a recycling cart is a positive step towards reducing your environmental impact, but using it effectively requires some knowledge and effort. By following these tips, you can make recycling a part of your everyday routine.
- Not everything can be recycled. Do not put plastic bags, small plastics under 3 inches, hazardous materials, or contaminated items in your recycling bin.
- The 4 common recyclable materials are paper, plastic, metal, and glass. Also, remember to rinse out containers and bottles before placing them in your recycling cart.
- To properly recycle, place all your recyclables inside the cart with the lid closed. Set your cart at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day, and make sure to leave 3 feet between the recycling cart and parked vehicles or other carts for the recycling truck to do its job.
Disclaimer: Recycling guidelines vary by location. Before you put anything in your recycling bin, check with your local waste management agency or visit their website to see what materials are accepted in your recycling program.
Frequently Asked Questions Relate To This Blog:
Question #1: What can I recycle in my recycling cart?
Answer: The items that can be recycled in your recycling cart vary depending on your local recycling program. However, you can simply tell if an item is recyclable by checking the recycling symbol on the item. The recycling symbol is a triangle made up of three arrows pointing in a clockwise direction.
Question #2: How do I prepare my recyclables for pickup?
Answer: To best prepare your recyclables for the pickup date and help ensure they actually get processed, you will need to rinse out and remove any food or debris stuck on your recyclables. You can also remove any lids from bottles or flatten cardboard boxes to save space in your recycling cart and help the collector.
Question # 3: What are the benefits of recycling?
Answer: By recycling, you can help reduce pollution by keeping waste out of landfills and conserve natural resources, such as trees, water, and minerals. Recycling also saves energy by reducing the need to extract, process, and transport raw materials.
Question # 4: Which items should never go in my recycling cart?
Answer: Putting the wrong items in your curbside recycling bin can contaminate and ruin an entire load. So to avoid unnecessary problems along the way, you should never place the following in your recycling cart: Greasy pizza boxes or food containers, electronic devices & batteries, used diapers, and yard waste such as tree branches, organic debris, or leaves.