Recycling is a great way to reduce waste, but not everything belongs in your recycle bin. Tossing the wrong items into recycling can contaminate batches and even damage recycling equipment. To make sure your efforts count, it’s important to know which everyday items should be kept out of the recycling bin. Here are some surprising items you should never recycle at home.
1. Plastic Bags and Film: A Tangled Mess
While it’s common to assume plastic is recyclable, plastic bags and film are a big no-no in curbside bins. These lightweight materials can easily get tangled in recycling machinery, leading to costly delays and equipment breakdowns. Plastic bags, bubble wrap, and plastic packaging materials can wreak havoc on the recycling process.
Instead, take your plastic bags to designated recycling bins found at many grocery stores. These programs are designed to handle soft plastics. To reduce your plastic waste even further, switch to reusable shopping bags and storage containers whenever possible.
2. Shredded Paper: Too Small to Recycle
While paper is a commonly recycled material, shredded paper doesn’t belong in your curbside bin. Those tiny pieces are difficult for recycling facilities to sort, and they often end up contaminating other recyclable materials like glass or plastic.
If you have a lot of shredded paper, consider composting it instead, or check if your local recycling facility accepts it in a separate bag. Better yet, reduce your need for shredding by going digital whenever possible and using electronic documents to reduce paper waste.
3. Diapers and Hygiene Products: No Way to Recycle
Used diapers and hygiene products like sanitary pads and tampons are another category that should never go in your recycling bin. These items contain waste and are made of multiple layers of materials that cannot be separated or processed by recycling plants.
While these products are essential, they must go into the regular trash. For a more sustainable option, consider switching to reusable cloth diapers or menstrual products like menstrual cups or washable cloth pads to cut down on your waste.
4. Greasy Food Containers: Contaminants in Disguise
Those pizza boxes, takeout containers, and any food packaging stained with oil or grease shouldn’t go into the recycling bin. Even though they are made of recyclable materials like paper or cardboard, the food residue contaminates the recycling stream and makes the material unusable.
Before tossing containers in the bin, make sure they’re free from food scraps and residue. Clean any recyclable containers thoroughly, and if a container can’t be cleaned, it’s better to throw it in the trash. For pizza boxes, consider tearing off the clean top portion to recycle, while throwing the greasy bottom in the trash.
5. Snack Wrappers: Not as Recyclable as They Look
Those shiny chip bags and candy wrappers may look recyclable, but they’re actually made of mixed materials like plastic and metal, which are not easily separated. This makes them unrecyclable in most curbside programs.
Instead of tossing snack wrappers in the recycle bin, try reducing your use of single-use snack packaging by purchasing snacks in bulk and storing them in reusable containers. Some specialty recycling programs also accept certain types of wrappers, so check for local options if you want to recycle these hard-to-handle materials.
6. Broken Glassware and Ceramics: Not Curbside Recyclable
It may be tempting to throw broken glass or old ceramics into the recycling bin, but these items are not recyclable alongside regular glass jars and bottles. Glassware, light bulbs, mirrors, and ceramics have chemical compositions different from those of recyclable glass and can’t be processed together.
Instead, safely dispose of broken glass by wrapping it in newspaper or placing it in a box before throwing it in the trash. If your glassware or ceramics are still in good condition, consider donating them to a thrift store or offering them for free online to give them a second life.
7. Popcorn Kernels and Bags: A Sneaky Problem
Even leftover un-popped popcorn kernels can cause issues at recycling facilities. Those small, hard kernels can damage recycling equipment, and many microwave popcorn bags are lined with materials that aren’t recyclable.
To avoid the hassle, simply throw un-popped kernels in the trash or compost if they’re organic. Opt for air-popped popcorn using bulk kernels to reduce waste, or make sure your used popcorn bags end up in the garbage rather than the recycling bin.
Specialty Recycling Programs: Expanding Your Options
While many items can’t be recycled through your curbside bin, specialty recycling programs are emerging to handle hard-to-recycle materials. From electronics to certain types of plastics and snack wrappers, these programs offer a more sustainable way to dispose of items that would otherwise end up in the trash.
Many major brands and companies have started taking back used products for proper recycling or repurposing. By researching local or mail-in specialty recycling options, you can minimize your waste footprint and ensure that even challenging items are properly handled.
The Importance of Recycling Right
Recycling may seem straightforward, but it requires careful consideration of what belongs in your bin. Contaminating recycling streams with improper items can create more waste and damage equipment at recycling facilities. By learning which common household items are better off in the trash or handled through specialized recycling programs, you’ll help ensure that more materials are successfully processed and reused.
Make sure to check your local recycling guidelines for specific rules, and remember that reducing waste at the source through reusable items can have an even bigger impact than recycling alone.
Checking Local Guidelines
What are your experiences? How often do you check your local recycling guidelines to make sure you’re recycling correctly? What steps can you take to reduce your reliance on single-use products that aren’t recyclable? Have you ever been surprised to learn that something you thought was recyclable actually isn’t? How did it change your recycling habits?