what goes in the recycling bin

What Goes in the Recycling Bin? Sorting Tips

Sorting waste and recycling is key to a cleaner future. Knowing what goes in the recycling bin helps cut down landfill waste. This article will guide you on how to recycle better and help your community.

Recycling fights environmental harm, but we all need to play a part. Learning the recycling rules and following them helps our planet. It ensures recyclables are used again, not wasted.

Key Takeaways

  • Proper waste sorting is essential to maximise recycling efficiency and reduce landfill waste.
  • Understanding recycling guidelines helps ensure that recyclable materials are properly processed and repurposed.
  • Contamination of the recycling stream can negatively impact the entire recycling process, so it’s crucial to sort items correctly.
  • Recycling goes beyond just throwing items in the bin – it’s about understanding what can and cannot be recycled.
  • Staying informed and following recycling best practices can make a significant difference in our collective effort to create a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Understanding the Basics of Proper Recycling

Recycling might seem simple, but it’s key to sort and prepare items right. This ensures a smooth recycling process. By following recycling best practices, we can make recycling more effective and sustainable.

Why Proper Sorting Matters

Sorting recyclables correctly is vital. Mixed or connected items can’t be recycled as they are. This means they need separate disposal or recycling, which costs more and increases waste.

By separating recyclables, we improve recycling efficiency. This ensures they are processed correctly and waste is minimised.

Common Recycling Mistakes to Avoid

  • Placing items in plastic bags: Plastic bags can cause delays and damage to recycling equipment if caught in the machinery.
  • Including non-recyclable materials: Once cardboard or paper comes into contact with food or liquid, it can no longer be recycled.
  • Failing to clean containers: Cleaning plastic items before recycling them can prevent contamination of other recyclable items and costly removal processes at recycling facilities.

The Impact of Contamination

Contamination is a big problem in recycling. One dirty item can contaminate an entire truckload of recyclables, making the whole load unusable. Also, never allow more than one teaspoon of liquid to remain in a recyclable, as this can also lead to contamination.

Proper preparation and sorting of recyclables are crucial. They help keep the recycling stream clean and increase the value of recovered materials.

By learning about proper recycling, we can all help. We can reduce recycling contamination, avoid sorting mistakes, and follow recycling best practices. These actions help make recycling more sustainable and efficient, benefiting our planet and future.

Explore the full rangeof recyclable to learn more about the importance of proper recycling.

What Goes in the Recycling Bin: Essential Guidelines

Recycling is key to living sustainably. Knowing what can be recycled is essential. Let’s look at the main rules for what goes in the recycling bin.

Recently, more items can be recycled. Now, clean plastic food packaging, dairy tubs, and drink cups are accepted. You can have up to three recycling bins at home, depending on your needs.

  • Metallic and plastic lids from containers can now be recycled and should be put back on the containers.
  • Paper items such as photographs, blueprints, and sticky notes are not accepted for recycling in the blue bin.
  • Some tape on paper or cardboard is acceptable, but excessive tape should be removed before recycling.
  • Pizza boxes that are not heavily soiled with grease, cheese, and food are recyclable; if the bottom is too soiled, tearing it off and recycling the top may be acceptable.

Recycling rules differ by area. It’s vital to know your local rules to keep recycling clean. Recycling saves energy, like saving trees and water.

By following these guidelines, we can help make our future greener. Make sure to recycle the right way to contribute to a better world.

Paper and Cardboard Recycling Rules

Recycling paper and cardboard helps save the environment. But, not all items can be recycled. Knowing what can and can’t be recycled is key to making a difference.

Acceptable Paper Items

  • Newspapers and magazines
  • Office paper, including white, coloured, and printed
  • Envelopes (without plastic windows)
  • Junk mail and catalogues
  • Cereal boxes and other food packaging made of cardboard
  • Paper bags

Cardboard Preparation Tips

To recycle cardboard right, flatten boxes and remove tape, staples, or plastic. This makes the recycling bin more efficient and helps the recycling process.

Paper Items to Keep Out

  • Paper towels, napkins, and tissues
  • Wax-coated cardboard, such as some take-out containers
  • Paper with food residue, such as pizza boxes
  • Hardcover books and books with glued bindings
  • Laminated or plastic-coated papers, such as greeting cards
  • Thermal paper, such as cash register receipts

By following these rules, you help the paper recycling, cardboard recycling, and recyclable paper products industries. This makes a big difference for our planet.

Acceptable Paper Items Unacceptable Paper Items
  • Newspapers and magazines
  • Office paper
  • Envelopes (without plastic)
  • Junk mail and catalogues
  • Cardboard food packaging
  • Paper bags
  • Paper towels, napkins, and tissues
  • Wax-coated cardboard
  • Food-soiled paper
  • Hardcover books
  • Laminated or plastic-coated papers
  • Thermal paper

Plastic Recycling: Understanding Shapes and Sizes

When we talk about plastic recycling, the shape and size matter a lot. The recycling symbol tells us what type of plastic it is. But, it’s the physical shape and size that decide if it can be sorted and processed at recycling centers.

Most recyclable plastics are bottles, jugs, and round containers over 6 ounces. These are usually made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), HDPE (high-density polyethylene), or PP (polypropylene). These are the most common types that can be recycled.

Recyclable Plastic Items Non-Recyclable Plastic Items
  • Plastic bottles and jugs
  • Round containers over 6 ounces
  • Tubs and lids
  • Plastic bags and wraps
  • Small containers under 6 ounces
  • Disposable cutlery and straws

Some plastics, like PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and PS (polystyrene), are hard to recycle. We should avoid them. Also, LDPE (low-density polyethylene) and film plastics are not usually accepted in curbside recycling.

“The key to successful plastic recycling is understanding the physical characteristics of the plastic items, not just the recycling symbol.”

By looking at the shape and size of plastics, we can make our recycling efforts better. This helps us move towards a more sustainable future.

plastic recycling

Metal Items: Guidelines for Proper Disposal

Recycling metal items helps reduce waste and saves natural resources. It’s key to follow the right steps to recycle metals properly.

Acceptable Metal Materials

Some common metal items that can be recycled include:

  • Food and beverage cans
  • Aluminium foil and disposable aluminium pans or plates (cleaned and wadded up)
  • Empty aerosol cans (no cans that held toxics)

Prohibited Metal Items

But, some metal items shouldn’t go in the recycling bin. These include:

  • Batteries
  • Electronics and small appliances (e.g. toasters, vacuums)
  • Propane tanks and fire extinguishers
  • Needles (require special preparation for disposal)

Special Handling Instructions

Some metal items need special care for recycling:

  1. Aerosol cans must be completely empty before recycling.
  2. Propane tanks and fire extinguishers have special recycling processes. Don’t put them in the regular bin.
  3. Needles need special disposal. Don’t put them in the recycling bin.

By following these guidelines, you help recycle metals right. This supports a greener future.

Glass Recycling: Dos and Don’ts

Recycling glass can be tricky. Unlike aluminium cans or plastic bottles, glass is heavier and has less value. This might make recycling glass expensive in some places.

But, recycling glass is still key for the environment. Glass recycling has cut litter by 70% in thanks to the Bottle Bill. To keep glass recycling going, knowing what to do and what not to do is important.

Good news: you can recycle “container glass” like beer bottles or jam jars. These can be turned into new bottles or used for insulation. But, not all glass is recyclable. Drinking glasses, ceramics, and light bulbs need different handling.

Also, remember to remove wine corks and bottle caps before recycling glass containers.

FAQ

What is the importance of proper recycling and waste sorting?

Proper recycling and waste sorting are key to reducing landfill waste. They make recycling more efficient. Clear guidelines ensure recyclable materials are sorted right and contamination is kept low.

What are common recycling mistakes to avoid?

Mistakes include putting items in plastic bags and including non-recyclable materials. Not cleaning containers properly also causes issues. These mistakes can contaminate recyclables, affecting the recycling process and its costs.

What items can be recycled?

You can recycle paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs, metal cans, and glass jars. Make sure to empty and dry these items before recycling.

What guidelines should be followed for paper and cardboard recycling?

You can recycle newspapers, magazines, office paper, and cardboard boxes. Flatten cardboard and remove tape. Don’t recycle food-soiled paper, wax-coated cardboard, or certain envelopes.

What are the guidelines for plastic recycling?

Plastic recycling focuses on shape and size, not recycling symbols. You can recycle plastic bottles, jugs, and round containers over 6 ounces. But, plastic bags, small containers, and disposable cutlery should not be recycled.

What guidelines should be followed for metal recycling?

You can recycle food cans, beverage cans, and clean aluminium foil. Batteries, electronics, and small metal pieces need special care. Some places offer deposit systems for beverage cans.

What are the guidelines for glass recycling?

Glass recycling means separating glass from other recyclables. You can recycle food and beverage bottles and jars of all colours. But, don’t include drinking glasses, ceramics, or light bulbs. Some places have deposit systems for glass bottles.

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