Recycling is a tricky business. Everyone is expected to do, but there is about a million different types of recycling and a whole bunch of rules no one understands. Unfortunately, the global recycling landscape has only gotten worse over the years since China has effectively shut down global recycling by halting the import of recyclables. This means that it is more important than ever to recycle the right way.
The solution is not to stop recycling. Alternative ways to get rid of waste such as composting is always great, but for those of us who only have two waste options (recycling versus trash), we need to get smarter. This is your comprehensive guide on how to recycle. My hope is that at the end of this post, we will all recycle a little smarter!
If you want to learn more about how decomposition and what phrases like compostable mean, check out this post!
3 Different Types of Recycling
There are three basic types of recycling: paper and cardboard, plastic, and metal. Depending on your city, you will most likely need to separate your recyclables. This means that you cannot put your metals with your paper. New Yorkers are expected to separate their mixed papers and cardboard from their plastic and metal.
Here is a general guide for what is considered paper and cardboard versus metal and plastic taken from the NYC Sanitation website. The best practice is always to look up the rules to your city’s recycling program (look for a website that looks like this www.yourcityname.gov) as different cities will have different rules!
This is a long list, but trust me; some things on this list that aren’t recyclable will blow your mind (spoiler: did you know plastic grocery bags are not recyclable curbside?)!
Metal (all kinds)
- metal cans (soup, pet food, empty aerosol cans, empty paint cans, etc.)
- aluminum foil and foil products (wrap and trays)
- metal caps and lids
- household metal items (wire hangers, pots, tools, curtain rods, small appliances that are mostly metal, certain vehicle license plates, etc.)
- bulky metal items (large metal items, such as furniture, cabinets, large mostly metal appliances, DOES NOT INCLUDE electronic devices banned from disposal)
Glass
- glass bottles and jars ONLY
Plastic (rigid plastics)
- plastic bottles, jugs, and jars
- RIGID plastic:
- caps, lid, or food containers such as:
- yogurt, deli, hummus, dairy tubs, cookie tray inserts, “clamshell” containers, other rigid plastic take-out containers
- non-food containers such as:
- “blister-pack” and “clamshell” consumer packaging, acetate boxes
- plastic housewares such as:
- flower pots, mixing bowls, plastic appliances, etc.
- bulk rigid plastic such as:
- crates, buckets, pails, furniture, large toys, large appliances, etc.
- caps, lid, or food containers such as:
Note: Rigid plastic is any item that is mostly plastic resin—it is relatively inflexible and maintains its shape or form when bent.
Cartons
- Food and beverage cartons
- Drink boxes
- Aseptic packaging (holds beverages and food: juice, milk and non-dairy milk products, soup, etc.)
Paper
- newspapers, magazines, catalogs, phone books, mixed paper
- white and colored paper (lined, copier, computer; staples are ok)
- mail and envelopes (any color; window envelopes are ok)
- receipts
- paper bags (handles ok)
- wrapping paper
- soft-cover books (phone books, paperbacks, comics, etc.; no spiral bindings)
Cardboard
- egg cartons
- cardboard trays
- smooth cardboard (food and shoe boxes, tubes, file folders, cardboard from product packaging)
- pizza boxes (remove and discard soiled liner; recycle little plastic supporter with rigid plastics)
- paper cups (waxy lining ok if cups are empty and clean; recycle plastic lids with rigid plastics)
- corrugated cardboard boxes (flattened and tied together with sturdy twine)
Not Accepted
- Paper with heavy wax or plastic coating (candy wrappers, take-out and freezer containers, etc.)
- Soiled or soft paper (napkins, paper towels, tissues)
- Hardcover books (schools should follow their school book recycling procedures)
- Batteries
- Electronic devices banned from disposal
- Printer cartridges
- Glass items other than glass bottles and jars (such as mirrors, light bulbs, ceramics, and glassware)
- Window blinds
- Foam plastic items (such as foam food service containers, cups and trays, foam protective packing blocks, and, and foam packing peanuts)
- Flexible plastic items (such as single-serve food and drink squeezable pouches and tubes such as toothpaste, lotion, cosmetics, or sports balls such as basketballs, bowling balls, soccer balls, footballs, yoga balls)
- Film plastic (such as plastic shopping bags and wrappers.) Bring plastic bags and film to participating stores for recycling
- Cigarette lighters and butane gas lighters
- Cassette and VHS tapes
- CDs and DVDs
- Pens and markers
- “Tanglers” (such as cables, wires, cords, hoses)
- Rigid plastic containers containing medical “sharps” or disposable razors
- Containers that held dangerous or corrosive chemicals
Recycling Do’s and Don’ts
There are many, many ways in which most of us are recycling incorrectly, and this means that we are contaminating the whole batch of recyclables! The reason why you hear that astounding statistic that 91% of plastics aren’t recycled and why you hear non-environmentalists claim that recycling is a myth is because many of the things we recycle might be contaminated.
Here are some basic recycling do’s and don’ts to make sure that your recycling batch is not contaminated!
THE GOLDEN RULES:
- DO NOT recycle anything that is mixed materials
- DO NOT recycle anything that isn’t clean, empty, or dry.
- DO NOT bag or bundle your recyclables
- DO NOT recycle anything smaller than a credit card
PAPER Do’s and Don’ts:
- DO NOT recycle paper if it is mixed with other materials (this means no recycling cardboard if it has tape on it and no recycling that piece of cardboard if it has a plastic covering).
- DO break down cardboard boxes so they lie flat. This will make them easier to process and make more room for more recyclables.
- DO NOT recycle paper or cardboard if it comes into contact with food or liquid. They can no longer be recycled (this means your pizza box is NOT recyclable).
- DO NOT recycle anything smaller than a credit card because otherwise, the paper is too small and may become stuck. Recycle shredded paper by containing in a recycle paper bag
METAL Do’s and Don’ts:
- DO NOT recycle metal cans if they have an insulated coating. If your can doesn’t look like it is pure metal, don’t recycle!
- DO always rinse out your metals before recycling. They do not need to be 100% clean but they do need to be 100% dry!
PLASTIC Do’s and Don’ts:
- DO always rinse out your plastics before recycling. They do not need to be 100% clean but they do need to be 100% dry!
- DO NOT separate lids from the container. Lids are too small on their own to be recycled.
- DO NOT recycle flimsy plastic. A general rule of thumb is that if you can poke your thumb through it and make a hole, it is too flimsy!
- DO NOT put your recyclables in a plastic grocery bag because those are NOT recyclable curbside
PLASTIC RECYCLING: WHAT DO THE NUMBERS MEAN
The most confusing part of recycling is plastics recycling. Aside from the rule of thumb of not recycling flimsy plastic, there are a whole bunch of other rules to consider. There are two additional key rules to remember:
Some plastics cannot be recycled curbside.
That means your neighborhood recycling program cannot recycle these plastics, but an industrial recycling location may be able to. That is why it is always recommended to bring your plastic grocery bags into a grocery store to have them recycle it for you.
If something is recyclable, look for a recycling symbol and the number associated.
This number will tell you everything you need to know about what kind of plastic it is and how to recycle. Not all plastic is recyclable, and certain plastics are only recyclable in certain cities or through certain programs. This means that it is super important to ALWAYS check for the recycling symbol and the number before recycling.
- Recyclable through curbside neighborhood recycling: #1, #2
- Not Recyclable (only recyclable through certain programs): #3, #4, #5, #6, #7
There is a lot going on with recycling, but you don’t need to be scared!
It is always better to recycle less but do it properly than to recycle more and do it incorrectly. I hope that this guide has helped shed light on how to recycle, and I have every bit of faith in you that you will become a recycling expert! I highly recommend placing your own mini recycling containers next to your trash can (I personally have 2; one for plastic and metal and one for paper and cardboard). This way, you will always remember to recycle!
