10 Common Recycling Mistakes You Can Avoid

People are often lost when it comes to recycling. Some of us make the mistake of throwing everything in the rubbish bins. Unfortunately, the practice has a bad impact on the environment. Recycling is easy, and everyone should take part in their local recycling program. Following are ten (10) common recycling faux pas that you should avoid.

1. Forgetting to Recycle Some Plastic Caps- Many plastic caps are recyclable. However, you need to check to make sure that the ones that you have can be recycled. You might find that you can avoid throwing away your plastic caps. If you can recycle them, put them in your recycle wheelie bins that are meant for plastic items.

2. Putting Dirty Recyclables in Your Bin- Before putting your recyclables in your bins, you should clean them. Some items, like paper or cardboard, can be ruined by dirty recyclables. Everything you put in your bins needs to be clean. You should also check to make sure that you don't need to do any bin cleaning. If you have put soiled items in your bin previously, then it may need a good bin cleaning. Such maintenance will keep newly added items from getting soiled.

3. Throwing Magazines Away- Many individuals fail to realise that they can recycle their magazines. Just because they use glossy paper, it doesn’t mean that they need to be thrown out. You can simply put them with the other paper items that you are recycling. You can also recycle magazines in a few other ways. You can give them to others to read or you can also use them in craft projects. Some art programs and centres will accept donated magazines as well.

4. Foregoing Sorting- Some people throw all of their recyclables in one bin. However, you need to sort them. If you leave this step out, the items will probably be left behind. Take the time to sort them properly. For most people, they only need plastic and a paper recycling bin. If your items don’t belong in either bin, they probably can be thrown out with your rubbish removal. Many individuals keep a separate recycle container in their kitchen. This allows them to put recyclable items in them as soon as they are no longer being used. This will eliminate the need to sort through items on rubbish collection day. 

5. Trying to Recycle Plastic Bags- Unfortunately, plastic bags can’t be recycled. It is rare that a recycling company will accept them. This is why you should try to limit your plastic bag use. When you go to the store, take your bags with you. If you have some plastic bags, try to reuse them in some way. Some groceries store also have receptacles where you can place your unwanted plastic bags. Make sure that your bags are clean and dry.

6. Infrequent Recycling - Recycling is beneficial for the environment. Make sure you take advantage of recycling as much as you can. Don’t throw out items that can be recycled. Put them in their proper bins right away. Make it a habit to recycle as many of your items as possible. If you do it regularly, you will find that it is simple and enjoyable.

7. Being ignorant About Recycling- To recycle efficiently, you need to learn as much about it as you can. Find out what items your local recycling centre accepts. It might also be beneficial to go on a tour. You can find out how your items are recycled, and you can find out more information about how beneficial recycling is. A great way to learn about recycling in a hands-on way is to volunteer. Your local recycling centre may have a number of programs that you can join. You can do things like help sort items or be part of special recycling events in your local community.

8. Putting Shredded Paper in Your Bins- It is difficult for shredded paper to be recycled. You are better off reusing it in some way. It is the perfect bedding for animals like hamsters and gerbils. You can also place it in your compost bin. Animal shelters will sometimes take the shredded paper to put in their animal cages as well. If you have a lot of shredded paper and aren't sure what to do with it, you should call your local recycling centre. They might be able to advise you as to places that you can donate it. If you shred things such as junk mail or old bills, you may want to consider discontinuing this. By using a marker to black out private information, you can safely dispose of these items without shredding them.

9. Placing Certain Food Boxing in Your Recycling Bins- It’s difficult to recycle certain food boxes. If a box has a waxy coating on the outside of it, then it probably can’t be recycled. Frozen food boxes commonly have this coating on them. For these types of boxes, you need to throw them in the rubbish bin. If you consume a lot of foods that use these types of boxes, then you might want to consider purchasing different food items that have recyclable packages.

10. Failing to Recycle At Your Job- If your employer doesn’t already recycle, encourage them too. Spearhead the initiative to recycle. Get wheelie bins for them to put near the rubbish receptacle. Ask them if they are recycling items, any items that you aren’t yet aware. You might find that they do recycle, but you don’t know how to go about participating. Many companies do want to recycle, but they need someone to act as a spokesperson.

In conclusion, recycling has a positive impact on the environment. Even if you do recycle, you may be making some of the common mistakes mentioned above. By being educated about recycling as much as possible, you can help the environment and encourage others to make smart recycling choices as well.

myBins endeavours to recycle as much as possible because we are committed to helping the environment thrive for future generations to come