Recycling has become a key part of our efforts to protect the environment, but there are a lot of misconceptions about how recycling works and whether it’s worth it. You’ve probably heard the myth that everything you recycle ends up in a landfill.
Want to know the truth about recycling? Read on to learn more about some of the most common recycling myths.
Myth #1: Recycling ends up landfills
This is one of the most common and harmful recycling myths. If you believe recycling ends up in the same landfills with garbage, what’s the point of separating recyclables?
The truth is that curbside recycling and garbage are collected by separate trucks, and those trucks have different destinations. The garbage truck takes household waste to a nearby landfill where it can be disposed of. Your recycling is hauled to a nearby recycling center where it can be processed and reused.
Recyclables end up in landfills because people throw them away instead of sorting and recycling them.
Myth #2: Any items with a recycling symbol are recyclable
In the early days of household recycling, people relied on the recycling symbol on packaging to determine what was recyclable. That symbol is still used to identify recyclables, but that doesn’t mean you can recycle any product with that symbol.
Recycling is different in different countries, states, cities and counties. Many items with the recycling symbol can’t be recycled in most places. If you’re not sure what you can and can’t recycle, check with your local recycling center or curbside pickup service.
If you recently signed up with a curbside recycling service or moved to a new city, check with your local recycling provider to figure out what’s recyclable and what’s not.
Myth #3: Recyclables need to be thoroughly washed
You’ve probably heard people mention that recyclable plastic jugs and glass bottles need to be thoroughly washed before recycling. While it’s true that contaminants like food and grease can render recycling useless, it’s not as big of a risk as it may seem.
Thoroughly washing your recyclables is a waste of water, and it’s not necessary. You should wipe away excess foods and liquids with a paper towel or washcloth, but that’s all you need to do to clean containers before you recycle them.
Conserving and reusing resources is important, but conserving our limited water supply is equally important.
Myth #4: Recycling doesn’t conserve energy
You’ve probably wondered if recycling is worth it in the long run; the short answer is yes. Recycling materials like plastic and metal uses significantly less energy than it takes to create plastic bottles or metal cans from raw materials.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration1, using recycled aluminum cans to make new cans uses 95% less energy than using raw materials. Per Recycling Today2, using recycled plastic reduces energy consumption by 79% for PET, 88% for HDPE and 8% for PP.
Myth #5: All lids are recyclable
From glass and plastic bottles to milk jugs, lots of recyclable containers have lids. You might be able to recycle water bottles with lids in your state or city, but the rules are different everywhere you go.
Check with your local recycling center to find out what they want you to do with plastic lids. Some recycling centers allow you to keep plastic bottles on plastic caps when you’re recycling, but plastic caps need to be removed from metal or glass containers.
Some facilities won’t recycle bottles with lids because they use a baler. The rules are different everywhere, so don’t assume you can recycle lids with all your containers.
Myth #6: Compostable items can be recycled
Compost and recycling are two separate things, and compostable items aren’t designed to be recycled. Compostable items are usually made from plant fibers and similar materials that aren’t recyclable. Some compostable items are recyclable, but you have to know what they’re made of and check with your local recycling center.
While this is one of the common recycling myths, using compostable plates can still help you reduce your environmental footprint. You can throw compostable items into your yard waste bin or put it in a compost bin in your yard.
Myth #7: Recyclables can only be recycled once
One of the most common recycling myths is that recyclable materials can only be recycled and reused once. While it’s true that there’s a limit to how many times an item can be recycled, most materials can be recycled more than once.
Plastic can usually be recycled two or three times before it’s not usable. Glass and metal can be recycled indefinitely, which is why recycling these materials is so important. Paper and cardboard can also be recycled several times.
Myth #8: Recycling is the same across the country
If there’s one recycling misconception that can make your life difficult, it’s this one. Recycling rules and regulations are different everywhere, so you have to learn what you can and can’t recycle when you move to a new city or state.
You may be able to find more information online about recycling in your city or state, but that info isn’t always accurate. The best thing you can do is contact your local recycling center or curbside pickup provider to learn more about what’s recyclable and where you can take your recycling.
Get Started With Corridor Recycling
These common recycling misconceptions can discourage people from recycling, but everybody can make a difference. By separating your household waste and recycling what you can, you can help conserve our limited resources and reduce the amount of energy it takes to manufacture products we rely on.
At Corridor Recycling, we make recycling easy. We accept everything from CRV containers to paper, cardboard and metal at our Long Beach recycling center. To make recycling even easier, we’ll help you unload everything and recycle it free of charge.
Now that you know the truth about recycling, it’s the perfect time to start doing your part to protect the planet.