Recycling is not a drudge; it’s an important discipline that touches the lives of our communities and the health of our earth. Although the process may appear to be complicated at times, learning about a few fundamental principles can turn you into a recycling pro, making your efforts help create a cleaner, healthier world.
Perhaps the most prevalent myth regarding recycling is that anything that carries a recycling symbol can be sent curbside. The majority of home programs in Hillsborough and Mecklenburg Counties collect clean, empty plastic bottles and containers, aluminum cans, glass jars and bottles, dry paper, and flattened cardboard. The focus here is on hygiene; just a few bits of food residue or liquids can taint an entire load of recyclables, making them useless. A quick wash of containers can be the difference.
And cardboard, the standard rules apply: dry, flat, and free of food scraps. Even pizza boxes can be recycled if not vilely greasy. Products made of paperboard, such as cereal or tissue containers, are OK if cleaned up and dried. Magazines, newspapers, and junk mail are fine to toss into your recycling can, provided they are clean and dry.
Conversely, some materials are consistently problematic for curbside recycling programs. Bagged, wrapped, and film plastic products are notorious for jamming machinery at recycling facilities, leading to chaos. These kinds of materials are usually collected at designated drop points, typically located at neighborhood supermarkets, where they can be properly processed.
Electronics, batteries, and light bulbs are another group that many people get confused about. These don’t ever belong in your regular recycling can. Most communities, such as Douglas and Hillsborough Counties, have special drop-off points for electronics and hazardous waste. Rechargeable and lead-acid batteries each have their own designated recycling facilities, but single-use alkaline batteries will differ from program to program.
Household hazardous waste, such as paint, solvents, pesticides, and motor oil, needs to be treated with special care. These products are incredibly hazardous to waste collection workers and the environment if disposed of improperly. As always, phone your local waste management organization to inquire about drop-off sites. The same applies to pressurized cans, syringes, and prescription drugs, all of which have special disposal methods.
Also, items such as yard waste, food scraps, and bulk plastics such as kiddie pools or patio furniture do not go in your curbside recycling bin. Some communities have yard waste collection services available independently or encourage composting. Bulk items can be thought of for donation or taken to drop-off points.
One key idea to avoid is “wishcycling,” which is the practice of tossing something into the recycling bin and hoping it will be recycled, but that is not necessarily following local guidelines. Anything that is always going to be a no is clothing, shoes, textiles, and pots and pans. If they are in decent condition, though, donating is the way to go. Interestingly enough, the majority of programs also recommend against recycling ripped paper because of its broken shape, which cannot be sorted very efficiently.
Proper recycling is not mere compliance, but it is a measure of prevention that assures the health of the environment and of the public. Segregation of our recyclables helps us to effectively reduce pollution, conserve valuable natural resources, and prevent toxic wastes from ending up in landfills or incinerators.
In the end, it’s easier to make a difference than you ever imagined. The next time you’re reaching for your recycling bin, pause to think about what you’re putting inside. Your conscientious act, one bottle, can, or box at a time, adds up to a healthier world for all of us.
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