So, you haven’t reached your life goal of becoming 100% zero waste- and that’s OK. There are certain materials that are an inevitable part of life, so let’s do our part to make sure they are being disposed of properly. With these tricks, you’ll have a good understanding of how to recycle correctly.
Know your area
Before you recycle anything, the most important thing to know is what recycling capabilities your town, city, or district has. You may see that triangular arrow shape on your plastic or aluminum container and think you’re safe to recycle it, but it all depends on what your local recycling plant actually accepts, so do a quick google search and find out.
If it floats in the wind, you probably can’t recycle it
One golden rule to tell if your plastic can or can’t be recycled is if it is able to float in the wind. Materials like plastic bags and food wrappers typically can’t be recycled. There are a few exceptions, like shopping bags which can sometimes be returned to the store for recycling, but it is best to stick with our handy reusable shopping bags.
Straws and cutlery are just too small
Just because it’s made of plastic doesn’t always mean it’s recyclable. Take straws and plastic utensils for instance. These items are simply too small to be recycled and are generally not accepted by processors. Small items like this can easily fall through the cracks of recycling machines if they make it through too.
Numbers 1 and 2 are best for recycling
Those little numbers inside of the recycling logo are indicators of what type of material you’re dealing with. The materials that are most commonly accepted and easiest to process are the ones with the numbers 1 and 2. Numbers 4 and 5, are less likely to be accepted so you’ll have to check with your local guidelines before it goes in the bin. Lastly, 3, 6, and 7 most likely will not be recycled, but it is still a good idea to check with your local guidelines as well.
As important as it is to recycle, it’s also important to make sure we are recycling correctly when we do. Remembering these few tricks will help you recycle better and easier the next time plastic comes your way!