Consider this: the average person generates over four pounds of trash every single day. With this in mind, it is important to focus on recycling as a way to make Mother Earth happy. However, there are some common recycling mistakes many people make when they think they are saving the environment, but in reality, their recycling just ends up in the garbage. So to make sure Mother Earth smiles down on you, make sure not to fall into these common recycling myths!
Plastic bags can be tossed into your recycling bin
This is untrue, as the only way to recycle plastic bags is to take them to a specialty waste management center. This is to ensure they get reused properly and can be remade into other plastic items.
Shredded paper can be recycled along with newspapers and magazines
Shredded paper can actually clog up different recycling machines and cause a huge mess at the centers. So if you have a lot of shredded paper to dispose of, make sure to contact your recycling center to see if they accept it. Typically if they do, it is only when the paper is in a plastic bag labeled “shredded paper only.”
Cans and plastic bottles with liquid inside them can still be recycled
This is untrue because the liquid if spilled, can potentially cause recycling machines to malfunction. So usually recycling centers will just toss these items in the trash if there is even just a tiny bit of liquid inside them, so please take care to dry out all your cans and bottles.
Pizza boxes can be recycled
Unfortunately, pizza boxes have a lot of grease and cannot be recycled. This is because, at the recycling plant, cardboard will be combined with water to create a pulp and the oil will compromise clean cardboard and prevent it from being used again. Chances are your entire pizza box isn’t covered with grease, so consider cutting it up before throwing it in the recycling bin to save at least part of it!
Just make sure not to fall into these common recycling myths, and you will be on your way to saving the environment one piece of recycling at a time.
