What’s Up with Recycling?

Americans are consuming more and more but with the current status of the recycling market – much of what we think we’re recycling is actually ending up in the trash.

Ask yourself: do you truly want to recycle, or do you simply look at recycling as something you should be doing? Just because you feel good after throwing something into the recycling bin doesn’t mean any good actually came of it. 

Let that sink in while you consider the following…

• China’s ban on US recyclables created not only a depression in the market, but an awareness of the contamination epidemic 
• While many went into crisis-mode, other players responded with innovation, education and long-term strategies 
• After nearly two years, we are beginning to turn a corner not through rebounding markets, but through improved packaging, sourcing, training and technology

More good news: towns are eliminating single-use plastic and consumer-packaged goods companies are joining the recycling conversation with a commitment to increasing recyclable content, minimizing packaging and reusing material. Hauling companies are committed to recycling, despite the continuously tough markets, and have no intention of turning away from the opportunity to upgrade MRF’s and reshape current recycling contracts.

So, where do we go from here? Recycling used to be simple, and today – not so much. There are various signs and symbols on everything we buy, and “Is this recyclable?” is one of our most commonly heard questions – so we get it.

Let’s cut through the confusion… 

The first step is understanding what can and cannot be recycled. While specific recycling rules vary from city to city, following are a few rules of thumb you are safe to follow pretty much anywhere. Armed with this knowledge, you can actually help divert waste from landfills through proper separation, not just feel good about throwing it in the bin 😉 

WHAT CAN BE RECYCLED (must be free of plastic bags)

• CLEAN Cardboard and paperboard (OCC)
• Glass bottles and jars
• Plastic bottles and containers
• Food and Beverage cartons 
• Paper – newspapers, magazines, mixed paper
• Rigid plastic products
• Metal containers - including tin, aluminum, and steel cans
• Food waste – only if your city has an organics collection program

WHAT CAN’T BE RECYCLED

What can’t be recycled is just as important as knowing what can be recycled

• Styrofoam
• Electronic waste
• Plastic bag and film, bubble wrap
• Greasy paper (like that box your pizza came in last night)
• Used paper towels, tissues, and diapers
• Broken ceramics, light bulbs, and mirrors

Some additional rules of thumb to help you sort out your recycling:

FACT: Nothing smaller than a credit card – anything smaller than this will most likely jam up the sorting equipment during the recycling process

FACT: Plastic bags don’t belong in mixed recycling – the only way you can recycle plastic bags is with other plastic bags and approval of your hauler

FACT: Coated cardboard should not be recycled (coffee cups, milk cartons, etc.) – while it may be accepted in some instances, it is not desirable as cardboard recycling and should not be mixed with uncoated recycling. You should always break down and flatten your cardboard, btw.

FACT: When in doubt, throw it out – too much dirt and debris in a few bins can contaminate an entire load.

Still confused? At Advanced Enviro Systems, we help our customers find appropriate solutions for all their waste streams in order to keep as much material out of landfills as possible. 

If you have any questions or need clarification on what can be recycled in your area, please contact your city or municipality.

If you want to learn more  – we’re here to help. Hit us up at info@advenviro.com or 215-302-2000