5 Common Mistakes That We Make When Recycling
Recycling is indeed a great way to reduce our waste production. The more we become aware of its importance, the more we love to do it. However, the biggest question here is, “are we doing it right?”. Most of us know the basics of recycling, and we’re pretty much good at it. But, there are certain instances where recycled materials are rejected.
Here are some of the common mistakes we make when recycling.
Not sorting wastes properly
The number one common mistake we make when recycling is not sorting out our waste products properly. The most important step in recycling is to sort correctly. You may have to give extra effort, but it’s the best thing to do if you don’t want everything to end up in the trash. Having multiple trash cans with labels will be a big help. Segregate dry from wet waste products. Once you can get your wastes sorted out correctly, you can bring your recyclable materials to recycling companies, like Langley Recycling, and even get extra cash.
Crumpling papers
Are you that person who crumples up papers when you throw them away? Then, it’s about time that you stopped doing that. You can still recycle crumpled papers. However, you will more likely get more cash if the paper you are throwing away isn’t folded or crumpled, as fibers are more intact at this state.
Not removing plastic bottle caps
When recycling, removing plastic caps is important. This is because there may be liquid still left on the bottle if you don’t remove them. Before you put your plastic bottles, milk cartons, or liquid soap container in your recycle bin, be sure to remove their plastic tops first. Doing this will make it easier for the sorting machines to process the materials.
Recycling broken glass
Remember that glass from broken mirrors, windows, water glasses, chandeliers, etc., is not considered recyclable. Jars and bottles are the only ones you can recycle. If you have a broken mirror or window at home, wrap them up properly and directly put them in your trash bin. This kind of trash shouldn’t be in your recycling bin.
Recycling unclean containers
Another common mistake we make is recycling unclean containers. A container will more likely get rejected if it’s covered with leftover food. Whether it be a pizza box, yogurt cup, soda bottle, or coffee cup, the best thing to do is tear off the contaminated part or at least rinse the bottle before putting them in the recycling bin. This will prevent your whole batch of recyclable materials from getting contaminated. By doing this, you are making the task easier for those who work in the recycling plant.
Since many people are now into the idea of recycling, the only thing left to do is learn how to do it right. Recycling makes a big difference to our environment. It is one of the best ways to do it. If you want to be a part of the change, start at home and make sure that you know your basics.
