Recycling helps reduce the need for new raw materials and allows us to make the most out of everything. But is it really as good as it seems?
If there is one thing I've learned, it is that when something seems too good to be true, let's just say... it's suspicious.
As you're going to find out in this blog, I believe that recycling is not the solution to our environmental problems. But, I do want to take a moment and recognize that it's an amazing first step in this journey and definitely much better than simply letting all of our waste go to the landfills.
When I embarked on this plastic-free, low-waste journey, recycling was the first thing I thought of. And through researching more about recycling, I was able to find actual solutions that fit my lifestyle and align with my values.
I also learned that recycling is not at all as easy as it sounds. Simply putting one wrong thing into a recycling bin can actually contaminate the bin and cause all recyclables to be tossed in the landfill. Yes, you read that right. One little thing is enough to cause this.
So buckle up for a comprehensive guide about recycling that I've put together for you. I hope that it will help you to make a step in the right direction and easily adjust your lifestyle.
* This guide is based on the guidelines of Miami Dade County.
Recycling truth:
You can remember these 5 easy categories that are totally acceptable in your recycling bin:
1. Paper: clean and dry newspapers, magazines, catalogs, telephone books, printer paper, copier paper, mail and all other office paper without wax liners.
2. Cardboard: packing boxes, cereal boxes, gift boxes, and corrugated cardboard. Make sure to flatten all boxes before placing them in your cart.
3. Cans: steel and aluminum food & beverage cans. Aluminum bottles are also accepted.
4. Cartons: aseptic poly-coated drink boxes, juice cartons, and milk cartons.
5. Bottles: (plastic & glass) - plastic bottles, milk, water, detergent, soda and shampoo, glass bottles. The number you see on the plastics are no longer an indicator of what's recyclable. Miami-Dade County accepts all plastic bottle containers regardless of the number lister. Remove cap or lid, flatten bottle and placed in the recycling cart.
Caps and lids should be thrown in the trash.
Yep, you read that right. Although both the bottle and cap are made out of plastic, they can't be recycled together.
As a general rule of thumb, you should not be recycling anything smaller than a post-it. Even if the packaging is recyclable, the truth is that it will most likely fall somewhere through the cracks causing the whole machine to jam. This is another reason items like straws are not recyclable.
Recycling myths:
1. Plastic bags: do not place recyclables in plastic bags or place loose plastic bags in the recycling cart. There are specific locations where you can recycle your plastic bags. I personally recycled all of mine at Publix before I made the switch to reusable shopping bags.
2. Pizza boxes: Even though pizza boxes are made of cardboard, they contain grease, which makes them a non-recyclable item. If you do place a greasy box in the bin, it will most likely contaminate all other items and everything will end up in the landfill.
3. Paper or cardboard soiled with liquid or food waste: Similar to pizza boxes, anything that still has any food rests can't be tossed in the recycling bin.
4. Batteries: dry cell batteries, lead-acid batteries. Batteries can't be recycled in your regular home recycling bin. There are some stores that accept them. Otherwise, you can check out Miami-Dade County's website to see what to do with batteries.
5. Certain plastics: plastic bags, cups, utensils and plates, polystyrene (foam) products, egg cartons and trays, margarine and butter tubs, yogurt cups, plastic hangers. Any plastic other than bottles is probably not recyclable in your home recycling bin. Publix has a bin specifically for egg cartons and trays. For anything else that's oddly shaped, you should check out Terracycle, which is an awesome program for hard-to-recycle waste.
6. Certain glass products: window or auto glass, light bulbs, mirrors, glass cookware or bakeware, ceramics. Just because it's glass, it doesn't mean that it necessarily belongs in your recycling bin.
7. Other non-recyclables: wire coat hangers, small appliances, microwave trays.
8. Home chemicals: paints, pesticides, pool chemicals, fertilizers, and other household hazardous waste.
9. Garbage/food waste or other non-recyclable waste: gas cylinders, tanks, rocks, dirt, building debris, garden hoses, flammables.
10. Medical waste and pharmaceutical.
11. Electronic waste and accessories: PCs, monitors, televisions, printer cartridges, keyboards, cell phones, CDs and DVDs. Some of these items are considered hazardous waste and should not go into the recycling cart. There is mercury in LCD TV screens and lead in computer monitors. Dispose of these items at a Home Chemical Collection Center.
12. Textiles: clothes, shoes, bedding, pillows, etc. If those are still in good condition, go ahead and donate them. If you're feeling crafty, there are tons of creative ways to reuse old textiles. If they've absolutely reached the end of their lifetime, you can always cut them up and use them as cleaning rags until they truly belong in the landfill.
For a more detailed list of how to correctly dispose of different items, check out the A to Z list of Miami-Dade County!
Recycling the right way is really important. For me personally, recycling is not a big part of my life anymore because I have truly focused on producing as little waste as possible and thus I have not only reduced my waste, but also my recyclables.
But as I mentioned in the beginning, I do believe that it's important to understand how to recycle correctly. Recycling is a big part of this journey and while it's not the solution, it's definitely a great beginning.
Xoxo,
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