As the concerns about climate change continue to grow, we strive to do our part in mitigating the impact of climate change by taking individual measures, such as buying second-hand clothing, being mindful of meat-consumption, and of course, recycling. But how effective is recycling really?
As of 2015, over 6,300 metric tons of plastic waste has been created and only a measly 9 percent of that has actually been recycled. Why is that? With the increase of excited recyclers, there has also been an increase in what has been deemed “wishful recycling.” “Wishful recycling” refers to the influx of individuals putting items that they think — or hope — can be recycled into recycling bins. This has lead to about 25 percent of the items put in recycling containers not actually being recyclable. Although the intentions of “wishful recycling” are generally honorable, the practice can lead to items that are actually recyclable being sent to landfills.
When recycling bins are contaminated with non-recyclable items, the cost of sorting becomes too high, to the point that it is more cost-effective to send to landfills or be incinerated. Regardless of how infuriating it may be to have recycling being sent to landfills, there are small steps that recyclers can take to progress from “wishful” to effective recycling.
The first step to effective recycling is understanding what can be recycled. Many commodities that are believed to be recyclable are actually not, such as greasy cardboard pizza boxes, small plastics (generally smaller than three inches), and deodorant containers. Making sure these items don’t end up contaminating recycling bins is vital to ensuring that the actual recyclable items are not being thrown away. Likewise, many single-use drink containers are actually compostable and should go to compost containers.
Bottles and plastic tubs are generally recyclable, but should be cleaned and have the labels removed. Plastic bags can also be recycled at most grocery stores. Many recycling standards vary locally, so make sure to investigate your local recycling regulations on items such as clamshell plastics and flexible packaging (such as chip bags).
Being aware of what is recyclable in local facilities is simple and can help drastically reduce the amount of non-recyclable items enter recycling bins, but it is important to remember that recycling is not the only, or even the best solution for leading a sustainable lifestyle. When the average American produces an average of 250 pounds of plastic waste annually, buying consciously to reduce and reuse should be our primary concern.
The process of becoming more environmentally friendly starts at focusing on reducing consumption. When making purchases it is important to try to buy used and reusable items. A majority of single-use, low quality items end up in landfills, regardless of recycling efforts. Plastic production reached 335 million metric tons in 2016, with about half of production being for single-use products. Even with recycling, plastic can take 450 to 1,000 years to decompose. Environmental protection starts with minimizing plastic consumption, not just figuring out how to recycle it later.
For more information about recycling, check out these resources:
A whopping 91% of plastic isn’t recycled — National Geographic
Recycling: You May Be Doing It Wrong — Smithsonian
Your Recycling Gets Recycled, Right? Maybe, Maybe Not — NYT
6 Things You’re Recycling Wrong — NYT
How Much Recycling Actually Gets Recycled: Essential Answer — Stanford Magazine
Americans’ plastic recycling is dumped in landfills, investigation shows — The Guardian