If I'm lazy with my recycling bin, do the good things get recycled anyway?

Question

My roommate and I have started recycling a lot more, and as a result, we've started putting ALL of our plastics, cans, papers, etc. into our recycle bin without really knowing if they're recyclable. Our center is a sorting center, so we can put all the stuff together, and it's really easy.

Yes, I know that you're supposed to rinse out everything and make sure it's all clean, but we don't do that. We also just put in any kind of plastic, without looking at the number.

Am I hurting my recycling center by not washing my stuff? Won't that stuff all get washed again anyway? Won't the unusable stuff be filtered away?

Is it better for us to recycle a lot, even though it might be lazy, or would it be better for us to recycle a little, taking care to rinse and care for all of the recyclables?

(don't answer "recycle a lot AND take care of them", because that's not the answer I'm looking for and you won't get chosen as best)

Answer 1

The recycling center I worked at would just take a bunch of stuff which had incorrect items in them and take it to the dump. They try to sort through what they can, but sometimes the workers get too bogged down with more coming in if the load is too messed up, so they don't bother after a certain time set.

If you aren't going to bother to do it right, then don't bother to do it at all. You're just creating a bigger waste.

Oh, and you don't have to rinse everything absolutely clean, just don't have it filthy.

Answer 2

well, if i see it scientifically you should care for the environment because all of us on the planet do have to lend a hand and try to save the earth. i'm sorry if i am being mean but you cant be lazy because we as humans wont have a chance against what we will have to face against nature.The landfills are filling up, and the public does not trust the incinerators! What are we going to do to save the earth? Recycle. One word, sounds easy enough, but what does it mean? In spite of the overwhelming odds at saving the planet’s ecosystem, there is something each of us can do right now. We can pollute less, buy into a close the loop philosophy, and attempt to influence others to do the same. Future generations will be influenced by the actions we take today. Make an effort to look for recycling information printed on packages. Commit yourself to reading environmental labels and to buying recyclable products, as well as products packaged in recycled materials. A good place to begin is in the supermarket. Check labels on boxes of cereal, cookies and crackers for the recycle symbol. Check canned goods and food in glass containers. Check detergents and cleaning supplies in plastic containers. Start checking all labels and you will discover dozens of packages made from recycled materials.

Answer 3

Lots of people put in recyclable and non recyclable items in the bends unwashed.  So my answer to you is to continue to recycle because most recycle companies will wash and separate items they can use.

Answer 4

I'm glad you asked this question; the answers have given me some insight into recycling centers.  I agree with the suggestion to call your local recycling center and ask them; that makes the most sense.  

Other than that, I don't really have anything to add, not being as knowledgeable on this subject as some of the other answerers; but I did want to suggest that if you have a dog, you can enlist his or her help in preparing some of your recyclables:  my dog loves to l**k things clean!  

I've heard that sometimes cans can have jagged edges which can be dangerous for dogs, but my dog has never suffered any apparent injury, and it is a duty she has gladly assumed.  To be on the safe side, I have now switched to one of those "safe-edge" can openers, so she can't possibly ever l**k a sharp edge.

Just a thought--if you have a dog to help, the cleaning can mostly be done for you!  And your dog will be delighted!

Answer 5

Each recycling company has different policies.  It is very true that they will often throw away a whole load if it's mixed with too much unrecyclable material, (or will fine you and refuse to pick it up from your curb) but it really depends on the company.

I think the best solution really would be to contact your recycling company.  I contacted mine and they sent me a pamphlet with the exact details of what they do and don't accept.  Also, some of them have this information on their websites. This should explain how clean an item should be, and what sorts of things they don't take.  

Here are a few pieces of advice:

* You should rinse your recyclables, but there shouldn't be any need to scrub them as clean as you would your dishes.  Thirty seconds of hot water is probably more than enough for that empty can of crushed tomatoes or empty margarine tub.  Most recycling centres say there should be no more than 5% food particles on the surface.  Like someone else here said, it's more an issue in attracting pests and growing mould and disease as the item waits for weeks in a pile to be processed, and not as much an issue in whether or not the big cleaning machines can clean it thoroughly enough.

* If you can remember some of the key items that they don't take (mine doesn't take plastic bags or plastic tubs), you can make sure to save those items aside and dispose of them elsewhere.  Save up a trunk load and take them to the city recycling centre, where they will accept almost anything recyclable that commingled recycling won't take, even old aerosol cans.  You can also try to reuse items that you are unable to recycle, like margarine tubs. (http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehac...

The rest of this doesn't answer your question as much.  Still I'm writing it for anyone who might be interested.

"Reduce" is better than "recycle" . . .

* Reducing is key, of course.  More than anything else.  Really try to avoid purchasing anything in a package.  Packaging is the majority of your recycling, but sadly, much of the packaging on stuff isn't recyclable.  This is why most people have more garbage than recycling.  You can start in easy ways by bringing your own reusable bags for grocery shopping, then work your way up to more involved stuff, like buying in bulk (this is where leftover margarine tubs are useful) and cooking mostly fresh foods and avoiding those prepackaged, just-add-water foodlike products.  This is a little more time consuming, but it saves a load of money, so it's well worth the effort.  Also, when you buy things in packages, buy the big packages when you can, if you are going to use that much food!  For example, you might want to buy the big burlap bags of basmati or jasmine rice rather than the little 1 kilo plastic bags of boring and untasty rice.  This is also very cost effective.

And since "reuse" also takes precedence over "recycle" . . .

* Buy used stuff from thrift stores when you can, rather than buying new stuff.  This is better for some things (like lamps and furniture) than other things (like underpants).  This gets into the whole idea of recycling stuff, and not just packaging, but can save a lot of stuff from the landfill, which is kind of the whole point of recycling.  And on that same point . . .

* If you break something and can't repair it, try giving it away through your local Freecycle group before you throw it away.  If someone out there with a knack for sewing upholstery will take that couch that your dog peed on and your cat scratched up, then you have just saved way more from the landfill than a month of regular household recycling could.

I hope that helped!

Answer 6

I actually went to church with someone who volunteered at a center. Yes, they do of course clean and disinfect everything before it is recycled, but when you do not wash the items out, it attracks rats which cause disease. It also takes more time for them to clean, as they have to do it more often, this causes county taxes to rise, and can even hurt some of the programs. The best thing to do, is maybe each of you to take turns cleaning out the items, keep a platic bag for those, which can also be recycled. That way neither one of you will have the entire burden of cleaning things out, and yet you will still be doing a great job to keep this planet clean!

Answer 7

I dont think you really need to clean out the things that you recycle. they probably clean everything again there. so i think what your doing is great for the environment. i wish i had the patience to recycle. I think it would be better to recycle alot.

Answer 8

Recycling works as long as the center or whoever it is that eventually sells off the recycled material, can make a profit.  By adding types of plastic that can't be sold, you add cost to the center. They have to spend more time sorting. That adds labor costs.  And they have to dispose of everything they can't use.

Cleaning or not cleaning depends on how sophisticated the recycle center is.  For instance, ours used to ask that we remove all labels from metal cans. Now they say we can leave them on because they have a machine that washes them clean.

They used to only want clean paper. Now they say give us your pizza boxes too.

So the short answer is to ask and educate yourself and then decide how far you're willing to go with this.

Recycling does take extra effort at our end. But if we don't make the effort the costs to all of us will eventually increase.