Businesses built on poorly-made, trendy products are meant to do one thing and one thing only — break so that you buy more. If you can tame your desire to consume, you can fight back. With a little thought and planning, the stuff you acquire can have meaning and purpose instead of causing headache and frustration. It will also massively help your wallet over time. Here are some tips to fight back against planned obsolescence.

The term may be new to you, but chances are you can think of several instances of planned obsolescence. How ‘bout fashion with its ever-changing heel heights, hem lengths, and suit coat button numbers. Or cell phones that last about six months before they come out with a newer, better must-have model. Or the baby industry with its never-ending supply of gadgets and gizmos, sure to entertain your kid, if only they wouldn’t break when your child crawls over them.

For more information on reducing your consumption of short-life products, check out The Story of Stuff on how planned obsolescence hurts us.

Wikipedia: in industrial design is a policy of deliberately planning or designing a product with a limited useful life, so it will become obsolete or nonfunctional after a certain period. Planned obsolescence has potential benefits for a producer because to obtain continuing use of the product the consumer is under pressure to purchase again, whether from the same manufacturer (a replacement part or a newer model), or from a competitor which might also rely on planned obsolescence.

1 — Invest in Quality

You can pay $400 for a couch that will have flat cushions and busted legs within a year but looks great in a showroom, or you can cough up $1200 for a couch that will last so long, you’ll be handing it down to your grandkids. Spending money on quality in the first place keeps you from spending in the future.

2 — Be Classic, Not Current

Ever seen a picture of Audrey Hepburn or Paul Newman and thought they looked great? That’s because a classic wardrobe always looks good. Keeping up with trends can be exciting, but it’ll leave you broke. Spend your money on solid, natural fabrics that will last.

3 — Cut Down on Technology

Figure out what you need, get a product or gadget that matches those needs, and call it a day. Ignore the upgrade that came out the day after you bought it. This one fit your needs just fine, thank you.

4 — Buy Multi-Purpose

From high chairs that convert as your child grows, to refillable tins that you can use in the bulk section of your grocery store, buying items that have multiple purposes means that you can use them longer and create less waste.

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 section covers 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.

Plastic bags tangled in recycling equipment. (Source: Waste Management)

What can't I recycle?

Here are some common items that seem recyclable (with their misconceptions in parentheses), but actually are not:

1. Plastic bags + films (“they’re plastic, and plastic is recyclable!”)

2. Snack bags (“they look like foil, so shouldn’t they be recyclable?”)

3. Hot liquid cups / paper cups with coating (“they’re paper cups, and those are recyclable!”)

4. 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 here, but be sure to ask in person as well.

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”.