You Might Be Infecting Your Recycle Bin With Non-Recyclables

When is recycling day in your community? What should you put in the bin before you put it at the curb? You may be doing it dutifully, but still doing it wrong. For many Americans, recycling ranks ahead of some of the most confusing things in life, like building Ikea furniture, doing taxes, playing the stock market or understanding the opposite sex.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association has a new study out about the perceptions that Americans have of recycling. The bottom line: The system is rife with confusion. And that’s a problem when it comes to keeping contamination out of the recycling process and recyclables out of landfills.

For instance, you can recycle plastic bags and to-go coffee cups and plastic straws, right? Nope. Frequently, these are unrecyclable, according to the association, which represents the makers of food, beverage and consumer products.

The National Waste and Recycling Association estimates that a quarter of all recycling is contaminated, up from 7% a decade ago.

Many people surveyed practice “aspirational recycling,” putting “maybes” into bins and hoping for the best. The more concerned people are about the environment, the more likely they do it: up to 44% who say they’re very concerned.

Coupled with this, “shifts in the global economy, notably in China, are forcing cities across America to reduce or suspend recycling programs that are no longer economically viable,” the Grocery Manufacturers Association notes. “And while historically China accepted contaminated recycling loads, the country’s new policy limiting contamination to a near impossible 0.5% standard caused the value of recycled material to plummet.”

Why all the confusion? Well, there’s a patchwork of rules, based on where you live and who picks up your recyclables. You can recycle a pizza box in Arlington County, Virginia, for instance. But not in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Looking at an item to determine if it’s recyclable may not help. Ninety two percent of those surveyed said they’re unsure or believe anything with a plastic resin label can be recycled. But only two of the seven codes are consistently recyclable. And those codes are designed for employees at sorting facilities, the association notes in a news release.

A uniform system of recycling for the United States, or at least states, would be easier, according to 74% of those surveyed.

The waste management industry, in particular the company Waste Management, has been doing public outreach to educate consumers about recycling contamination.

The consumer packaged goods industry, CPG for short, also has been increasing recyclable content, minimizing packages or reusing material, the association says. Eighty percent of those CPG companies have committed to producing fully recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging by 2030, or sooner.

Maybe filling those bins—correctly—will be easier in the future.

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When is recycling day in your neighborhood? What should you put in the bin prior to you put it at the curb? You might be doing it dutifully, however still doing it incorrect. For lots of Americans, recycling ranks ahead of a few of the most complicated things in life, like constructing Ikea furnishings, doing taxes, playing the stock exchange or comprehending the opposite sex.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association has a brand-new research study out about the understandings that Americans have of recycling. The bottom line: The system is swarming with confusion. Which’s an issue when it concerns keeping contamination out of the recycling procedure and recyclables out of garbage dumps.

For example, you can recycle plastic bags and to-go coffee cups and plastic straws, right? Nope. Often, these are unrecyclable, according to the association, which represents the makers of food, drink and customer items.

The National Waste and Recycling Association price quotes that a quarter of all recycling is polluted, up from 7% a years back.

Many individuals surveyed practice “aspirational recycling,” putting “maybes” into bins and wishing for the very best. The more worried individuals have to do with the environment, the most likely they do it: as much as 44% who state they’re extremely worried.

(************ )Combined with this, “s hifts in the international economy, especially in China, are requiring cities throughout America to lower or suspend recycling programs that are no longer financially feasible,” the Grocery Manufacturers Association notes. “And while traditionally China accepted polluted recycling loads, the nation’s brand-new policy restricting contamination to a near difficult 0.5% requirement triggered the worth of recycled product to drop.”

Why all the confusion? Well, there’s a patchwork of guidelines, based upon where you live and who gets your recyclables. You can recycle a pizza box in Arlington County, Virginia, for example. However not in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Taking a look at a product to identify if it’s recyclable might not assist. Ninety 2 percent of those surveyed stated they’re not sure or think anything with a plastic resin label can be recycled. However just 2 of the 7 codes are regularly recyclable. And those codes are created for staff members at arranging centers, the association keeps in mind in a press release

A consistent system of recycling for the United States, or a minimum of states, would be much easier, according to 74% of those surveyed.

The waste management market, in specific the business Waste Management, has actually been doing public outreach to inform customers about recycling contamination.

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