You may be unintentionally doing more harm than good by tossing these items into the recycling bin.
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Although recycling isnt a new concept, the rules surrounding it can be confusing.
Depending on where you live, it might be straightforward to recycle most household items.
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In other areas, you’ll need to do more research before putting your recycling bin on the curb.
We also strongly suggest checking with your local recycling center to confirm their guidelines.
There are seven types of plastic, and only two of them are accepted by most recycling programs.
Weve listed some of the most popular offenders so you could be prepared next time you sort your recyclables.
Wax-coated cartons:Cartons of orange juice and bone broth are often lined with wax.
Since the thick substance can clog a sorting machine, recycling centers dont accept them.
Frozen food boxes:To ward off freezer burn, frozen foods are packaged in plastic-lined boxes.
Most use RIC #4, which we already know is unrecyclable.
If this concerns you, consider bringing your reusable produce bags when you shop.
Coffee pods:For some time now,single-use coffeepods have been filling landfills.
To combat waste, several companies likeNespressohas created recycling programs for its products that are simple to participate in.
Another easy, eco-friendly route is trying out reusable coffee or espresso pods.
Once grease and oil have saturated cardboard, forget about recycling it.
But the number of styrofoam products we encounter earns it its own spot on the list.
Although it cant go in your regular recycling bin, checkRecyclefoam.orgto find a nearby drop-off program.
Broken Glass
6.
The same applies to any heat-resistant kitchen wear, including chipped plates andcracked mugs.
Particular Paper Products
Printer paper, paperback books, and even most magazines can be recycled just about anywhere.
On the other hand, you probably deal with a plethora of papers that cannot for various reasons.
Keep the following things in mind the next time youre decluttering.
Receipts:Theprinted receiptsyou receive at checkout are made of thermal paper coated with BPA chemicals.
This means that most receipts cant be recycled or composted.
Opt for digital receipts whenever prompted in the name of the environment, your health, and less clutter.
Shredded paper:Although it seems counterintuitive, shredding paper can reduce its recyclability.
You might think youre helping the recycling center by getting a jumpstart on breaking it down.
So long as the paper is not glossy, you canadd it to a compost bin.
The good news is that most of these items are cleared for composting.
Electronics
Its a pretty well-known fact that electronics dont belong in your curbside recycling bin.
But its not as common to know what should be done with old or broken devices.
So removing them as soon as they expire or are no longer useful is crucial.
If you or someone you know is crafty, considerusing fabric scraps for sewing projects.
Mattresses
Contrary to popular belief, mattresses actuallycanbe recycledjust not easily, and not by your regular recycling program.
The various materials used to manufacture a mattress mean it must be deconstructed before it can be recycled.
