You can’t recycle that! A quick guide to non recyclable items
Takeaway coffee cups are recyclable, right?
Spoiler alert: They’re not!
2020 has been a challenging year, in so many ways. It’s true that, from an environmental perspective, we have given the planet a rest while planes are grounded, and factories aren’t producing. But sadly, we have needed to revert to some old habits, disposable items in particular. While this is essential (to protect our health!), it has created problems of its own: a plastic pandemic. One way we can start to remedy this problem, is to embrace reusables as a new way of life, and say goodbye to disposables for good. Especially when a lot of these disposables are also non recyclable!
Anyone who knows me (friends, family and customers alike), knows that I’m religious about my reusable coffee cup. I bring it everywhere. My rule is, if I don’t have a cup, I have to forgo my coffee. So trust me, I always remember it!
Recently a couple of friends asked me, “What’s the big deal? You can just recycle the takeaway cups, right?” Sadly, no you can’t. The plastic lining, and the way the paper and plastic are bound together, means that they are not easily separated – making the whole thing a non recyclable item.
A few years ago, the Chaser’s Craig Reucassel enlightened Aussies about this fact by taking a tram around Melbourne filled with disposable coffee cups. He wanted to draw attention to the fact that Aussies were sending 1 billion coffee cups per year to landfill. 1 billion per year!
Despite our best intentions, we can sometimes do more harm than good by wishcycling. Items deemed to contaminate the load can send the whole lot to landfill! So it’s important to know the non recyclable items from the recyclable ones.
NB: This is by no means a definitive list, but these frequently used items have the potential to make a big impact, if we reduce where we can and switch to reusables where we can.
Plastic bags: This includes ALL soft plastic packaging, including but not limited to fruits and vegetables, bags from bread, pasta, cereal, etc, and any other plastic that might be wrapped over boxed products. Reuse what you can, but the best thing you can do here is Refuse. Bring your own bag. Any old bag will do!
(NB: Apparently REDcycle accepts soft plastic for recycling, so check out whether they are available in your area. Follow this link to search the closest REDcycle to you.)
Bottles of cleaning products: While most containers from household cleaning products are likely ok for curbside recycling, it’s important to check. Some containers that have held harsh chemicals such as furniture polish, some bleaches, garden chemicals and similar are not recyclable. This means that not only will they be sent to landfill, they could also contaminate larger recycling collections too. Not ideal!
If in doubt, leave it out.
“I used to be a wishcycler. My new motto is, if it doubt, leave it out!”
Dirty food containers: I’m sure we’ve all done it – popped a grease-stained pizza box out for recycling collection in the hope that it would be ok. This might just be wishcycling at its finest! Anything that is dirty or stained will almost certainly be thrown into landfill anyway, so it’s not worth attempting to recycle it.
Tear off any grease-stained sections and recycle the rest of the box. Easy!
Toothbrushes: Dentists recommend we change our toothbrush every 3 months, that’s 4 a year. Multiply that by your household over a year, and it really adds up! This is one of the reasons why switching to a bamboo brush is so important.
Check out some other plastic-free bathroom swaps we recommend here.
Disposable razors: Once your current razor gives up the ghost, why not replace it with a reusable stainless steel razor (safety razor). And simply replace the blades.
(NB: Terracycle collects disposable razors and toothpaste tubes, among others. Check their website to find the closest collection near you! Unfortunately they are not in Singapore yet, but hopefully soon).
Small things! Small items such as bottle caps, corks, even small pieces of paper can interfere with equipment at sorting and recycling plants, so best to leave those out too. Recycle paper in bulk where possible too.
Remember…
Whilst recycling is important, it’s not the best way to remove plastic waste from the environment. So make sure you:
Reduce all packaging as much as possible, especially non recyclable items,
Reuse everything you possibly can, and
Refuse all single-use items, plastic or otherwise.
These are the best ways to minimise the load on the recycling industry and give it the best chance of success.
In short, if you’re not sure if something can be recycled, don’t wishcycle. If in doubt, leave it out!
Are you a “wishcycler”? Share your thoughts in the comments.