ARE YOU RECYCLING OR “WISH-CYCLING”?
With all of the recent changes in recycling guidelines this
past year, there’s no doubt we are still confused. Most agree,
we are just trying to do the right thing when it comes to being
environmentally conscientious, but even our best recycling
efforts can actually do more harm than good.
Until recently, I never gave a good enough look at the
recycling number assigned to a plastic let alone thought about
whether that mostly-empty, gooey jar of peanut butter was
going to cause issues during the
recycling process. Believe it or not,
there is a term for people like us
who toss anything that we feel
should be recyclable versus
what actually is recyclable into
our bins each week. We are
“wish-cyclers” in a lethal
game called “wish-cycling”.
According to Waste
Management: “Placing
non-recyclable materials into
the cart leads to additional economic and environmental costs,
with no benefits and (ironically) less recycling.” By placing wrong
items into our bins each week, we are actually adding more to
landfills because of contamination that companies such as Waste
Management are unable to control.
Waste management suggests contamination levels average
about 25% per load from wish-cycling. “Contaminants can
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PETERS TOWNSHIP
impact good recycling programs by increasing costs, reducing the
efficiencies of processing, and lowering the value of commodities”.
In Waste Management’s Recycle Often Recycle Right Campaign,
a simplified approach to recycling is offered:
1. Recycle all bottles, cans and paper
• You may recycle bottle caps (such as on a water bottle); just
make sure they are placed back on empty containers before
doing so.
• If your container is an aerosol (think hairspray), remove any
plastic lid before recycling.
• Lastly, check to make sure these plastics are labeled as
a 1 or 2. All other, numbered plastics are not accepted
(many food containers such as a butter container may
not be recyclable).
• Flatten cardboard so it can fit into your bin. If you place
cardboard on the side of your bin, chances are it will
end up in the landfill!
• If paper is wet, then throw it away as it is
considered contaminated.
2. Keep items clean and dry
• Try emptying bottles
and can of excess
liquid to reduce
contamination.
• If you don’t
want to take