Wish-cycling – tossing items in the recycling bin and hoping they belong – is the single biggest threat to clean recycling streams. Material recovery facilities are designed to sort certain categories with precision; introducing the wrong items contaminates entire loads and sends them straight to landfill.
1. Plastic bags belong at the grocery store
- Plastic bags jam sorting machinery. Drop them off at participating grocery stores instead.
2. Rinse before you toss
- A quick rinse keeps recyclables clean and prevents contamination.
3. Cardboard with food on it isn’t recyclable
- Pizza boxes with grease? Trash them. Clean cardboard? Flatten and recycle.
4. Electronics and batteries are not curbside
- Use a certified e-waste drop-off, never a recycling bin.
5. Caps on or off?
- Empty the bottle, leave the cap on. Cleaner trip through the MRF.