The Plastic Recycling Myth
As more and more environmental and ecological problems make headlines, you might think: "What can I do?" Personal changes may not seem like an effective immediate strategy, but it is important to understand how our existing system works in order if we’re going to change it for the better.
Ah, plastic. The once pinnacle of modern life to enemy of the public and the environment. You’ve probably heard about it all: microplastics in the ocean, single-use plastic bans, biodegradable plastics, microbeads, and more. So what can we do about it? In the midst of our current recycling crisis and recycling programs being canceled altogether, it’s more important than ever for us to be mindful of our waste. Personal changes may not seem like an effective immediate strategy, but it is important to understand how our existing system works in order to change it for the better.
What can I recycle?
Unfortunately, this question differs depending on where you are and what your local waste division collects. So it’s best to do your research locally. Spreading general umbrella terms like “glass is infinitely recyclable” is inaccurate because the same materials aren't recyclable everywhere. As an example, this post will dive into what is recyclable to the City of Seattle using Waste Management’s guidelines.
First off, sorting your recycling (and all of your waste in general) is important. Otherwise, it’s up to individuals to sort every piece separately at facilities. RORR explains that “Nonrecyclable garbage placed into recycling containers increases the cost of the recycling process and will increase the cost of garbage and recycling collection service.” If we want to make recycling easy and accessible(!) for everyone, we have to do our part to recycle correctly and responsibly.
What can't I recycle?
Here are some common items that seem recyclable (with their misconceptions in parentheses), but actually are not:
Plastic bags + films (“they’re plastic, and plastic is recyclable!”)
Snack bags (“they look like foil, so shouldn’t they be recyclable?”)
Hot liquid cups / paper cups with coating (“they’re paper cups, and those are recyclable!”)
Bagged recyclables (“if they’re all together, that should make it easier to recycle the whole thing!” Or “if we bag our garbage, it should be fine for recycling!”)
It might seem like these things can be recycled because they look like other recyclables or are attached to items that are recyclable (think paper towels and the cardboard roll -- paper towels go in the compost, cardboard goes into the recycling). But let’s take a look at why this isn’t the case.
Plastic bags + films
Plastic bags and other thin films are not recyclable because they can get tangled in recycling equipment and shut down the whole facility in order to clean it out. While you can take plastic bags to a local grocery store, you should check to see what is accepted and how they collect it. Some of that information is available at https://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/, but be sure to ask in person as well.
Plastic bags tangled in recycling equipment. (Source: Waste Management)
Flexible packaging
Many items, like chip bags, candy wrappers, and squeeze pouches, are not recyclable because they are made from mixed plastics. (This is actually a similar model to how some clothing is made and why it isn’t easily recyclable, but you can view an excellent video by Fashion for Good on fiber blends here). Because the plastic in this kind of packaging cannot be separated, it cannot be recycled and made into something new.
Hot liquid cups
These cups have plastic or waxed coatings that make the cup not recyclable. The lids that accompany these cups are also NOT recyclable. An easy swap you can make is bringing your own reusable cup if you’re on the go. If you’re not in a rush, skip the lid altogether.
Bagged Recyclables
Because plastic bags are not recyclable, you can see why putting your recyclables in a bag is a bad idea. In addition, your recycling cannot be sorted if it’s all tied together.
Of course, recyclables also come with a caveat. In addition to avoiding these recycling contaminants, make sure to clean your recyclables first.
Wait, I need to clean my recyclables? How clean do they need to be?
Recyclables don’t need to be sparkling clean. As long as you scoop out the food that was in it or give it a quick rinse, you should be good to go. According to RORR, your containers should be “clean, dry, and free of most food waste before you place them in your recycling container, [but] they don’t need to be spotless. The goal is to make sure they are clean enough to avoid contaminating other materials, like paper. Try using a spatula to scrape cans and jars, or using a small amount of water and shake to remove most residue.”
What about those arrows? That means an item is recyclable, right?
Not always. The numbers inside of them make recycling even more confusing, so we’re not even going to cover it. King County’s Waste Division states that “Resin codes are often misleading to the consumer because they were not intended to indicate if the plastic is actually recyclable. Rather they indicate what general type of chemical compound is used to make the products. The codes are not a guarantee to consumers that a given item would be accepted for recycling in their community.”
As a result, the City of Seattle doesn’t recycle based on the plastic number because it’s “not a reliable way to determine the recyclability of an item”.
Key Takeaways
Please don’t be an aspirational recycler. If you don’t know where it goes, look it up or put it in landfill.
Clean your recyclables.
Sort your garbage. Even if that means pulling plastic films (landfill) off of cardboard packaging (recycle).
Yes, it’s hard to keep track of all the rules, so the easiest thing to do is just reduce your waste overall.
In Conclusion
It can be easy to assume that if you’re just one person, accidentally throwing a plastic takeout container into the garbage instead of recycling isn’t a huge problem. Like many individual actions (from going off-trail on hikes to littering), that impact worsens when thousands of others do it too. To help make sense of your individual impact, I recommend trying Futuristic February, where you collect your garbage and recycling to see all of the waste you produce in a month. This helps to physically visualize what you put into landfills and recycling plants, and really builds a habit of cleaning out your recycling. No one wants to smell month-old dirty yogurt containers.
Plastics are pervasive, but they don’t have to be. If you’re interested in living a life with less plastic, start small by committing to Plastic-Free Tuesday or One Plastic Free Day. If you’re up for a bigger challenge, take the Plastic Free July pledge to refuse single-use plastics for a full month.
For more in-depth resources for all ages, visit https://recycleoftenrecycleright.com/ if you’re a Waste Management customer or https://earth911.com/ for recycling near you.