Recycling Mistakes Most People Make

In the U.S., nearly 260 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) are generated annually. Nearly 90 million tons of this MSW are recycled or composted, for a recycling rate of close to 35 percent. It's a good start, but there's clearly room for improvement, especially because many of the items Americans throw in their recycling bins are not actually recyclable. Many people toss questionable items in their bins hoping to give them a shot at being recycled, but the reality is that certain non-recyclable items will only be tossed into the trash bin at the recycling center. Worse, some of the items may end up contaminating entire loads of recyclables that would otherwise have gone on to other uses. During a visit to Denver's recycling facility, and specifically the waste management sorting facility, The Denver Post identified some of the top mistakes well-meaning recyclers make. Six Top Recycling Mistakes Recycling requirements vary by municipality, but in general you can use these suggestions from Denver, Colorado to determine if you're making common recycling mistakes. To verify the recycling guidelines in your area, contact your local facility. 1. Plastic Bags Shouldn't Go Into Your Recycling Bin. Municipal recycling facilities often do not recycle plastic bags, which can get caught in their machinery causing damage. Many grocery stores, however, have collection bins where you can drop off plastic bags to be recycled. 2. Avoiding Putting Your Recyclables Into Trash Bags. If you put your recyclables into closed trash bags, they'll get thrown straight into the trash. This is because sorters don't have time to open them, and they're also considered to be a safety hazard. 3. Greasy, Wet or Food-Soiled Items Cannot Be Recycled. Grease, liquids (even water) and food are considered contaminants. If they make it down the sorting line without being tossed out, they can contaminate an entire load of recyclables, causing it to be thrown out. Examples of items that cannot be recycled include: • Foil potato chip bags • Greasy pizza boxes (if you rip off the unsoiled cardboard lid, that can be recycled) • Foil lids from yogurt containers (however foil food trays and pie tins may be accepted as long as you remove as much food as possible) • Paper cups with shiny coatings, such as hot-serve coffee cups • Paper food bowls with plastic lining (such as those used for Chipotle burrito bowls) 4. Very Small Items Cannot Be Recycled. The Denver Post described it as "anything smaller than a Post-it note" cannot be recycled, because it's too small to be sorted properly. This includes plastic bottle caps, unless you screw them onto the bottle (be sure to empty all liquid out first, or the bottle will be discarded). 5. Don't Flatten Milk Cartons. Waxy milk cartons can be recycled, but if they're missed via hand sorting an infrared optical sorter will pick them out (and certain other three-dimensional items) from the mix. If you crush the cartons, they may be missed. 6. These Items Can't Be Recycled. Anything that enters a recycling center that cannot be recycled is considered a contaminant and will be thrown out. If too many contaminants are found in a bundle of recyclables, it runs the risk of being rejected. Examples of non-recyclable items in Denver include: Scrap metal Plastic that does not hold a shape Christmas tree lights Wire hangers Electronics (there are specialized centers for this) Auto parts Propane tanks Mattresses Bowling balls Bicycles Source: The Denver Post, 4/30/17.