We’ve all done it at some point: thrown away a disposable tea cup or food takeaway container in our recycling bin. While you may believe you are contributing your best to support. Unfortunately, your whole positive recycling may be harming the system.
Some materials, such as papers, glassware, and plastics, are simply not recyclable, based on where you belong. Check with your local service provider for specifics, but below is a list of things that are not commonly recyclable.
Hardcover Books
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Books have been made of paper, therefore they must be 100% recyclable, correct? Actually, even though books are made of recyclable paper doesn’t mean the entire book is recyclable, specifically if it’s a hardcover. Hardcover books include non-paper components and cannot be recycled at your regional recycling center. Remove hardcovers before dumping that books into the recycling stack when cycling old books.
Pizza Boxes
That mushy, mouth-watering pizza you had last Saturday was most likely delivered in a cardboard box, which can often be recyclable. However, the box cannot be recycled if it is excessively oily or tainted with food waste, like mozzarella mounted on top. This is due to the possibility that the grease and food particles can harm the recycling machinery or pollute other things in the bin. A slight oil and crumbles seem Ok, but if the box is drenched through or covered with cheese, then end up throwing it out or composting it.
Bubble Wrap
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Bubble wrap, like plastic shopping bags, cannot be recycled at the curb. Grocery stores, on the other hand, frequently feature dedicated recycling containers for bags and bubble wrap, including styrofoam. You may also look through a large database of recycling options.
Clothes Hanger
Metal hangers have an unusual form that can become entangled in recycling machinery. Meanwhile, because plastic hangers are sometimes constructed of mixed materials, they cannot be recycled in single-stream dumpsters. And because wood hangers have been treated, they cannot be recycled. Hangers that are damaged or no longer useful should be tossed or reused.
Plastic Straw & Cutlery
Plastic utensils and some disposable straws contain plastic (polystyrene). Many municipalities won’t accept your plastic serving utensils for recycling because this material is so expensive. Think about reusing them as DIY projects before throwing them away!
Cleaning Stuff
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Before throwing up housekeeping solutions, read the label. Water-soluble formulations can be dumped down the drain after being combined with water. Solid goods, such as cleaning wipes, sponges, and reusable dusters, can be eliminated. Everything that involves bleach or ammonium should be flushed away. For further information on alternative cleansers, call your nearest hazardous waste management site.
Specialized Papers
You know, that special paper that’s found behind those expensive craft shops. It’s the kind of paper that’s shimmery, glittery, metallic, or velvety.
This paper is often found in:
- Gift bags
- Wrapping paper
- Scrapbook paper
- Greeting cards
The easiest strategy to cope with such items is to reuse them as often as doable. If you received a present dressed in the glittery and glossy printed paper for your birthdays, aim to reuse it the next occasion you need to give something.
Plastic Bags & Wrap
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Plastic grocery bags and plastic wraps are typically not accepted for recycling since this lightweight material can twist, block, and seriously destroy recycling equipment. However, many supermarket chains allow customers to reuse plastic shopping bags, and some even have collecting boxes for ripped or useless bags.
Medical & Medicine Waste
There are strict rules regulating what medical products are allowed in free clinics, so needles, plastic syringes, and prescription containers cannot be recycled. Unused and expired medicines are also not recyclable. You can also donate expired medicines to free clinics that have strict rules about what they will accept. To learn about disposal options, speak with your doctor, pharmacist, or local hospital.
Glass, Windows, Mirror & Etc
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While nearly all glass bottles and jars are recyclable, not all glassware is the same. Before recycling glass windows, light fixtures, fluorescent bulb pipes, mirrors, glass, wine glasses, spectacles, centerpieces, and glass artworks, householders should look further.
Recycling Rules
Should I throw it out or recycle it? It is not always pretty clear. Some materials cannot be recycled but can still be reused, such as packing material. Other things (such as covers and some gadgets) cannot be recycled but can be given or picked up by specific services.
It was a startling revelation! I hope our list at Live Enhanced that the most common household goods that cannot be recycled will assist you in educating your friends and neighbors!
