12 Everyday Things You’re Probably Recycling Incorrectly
Avoid the most common recycling mistakes and help keep recyclables out of the landfill by learning what actually belongs in your bin.
Recycling helps conserve resources, reduce landfill waste, and limit environmental pollution, but properly recycling isn’t as obvious as it may seem. Many well-meaning recyclers toss items into the bin without realizing they could be contaminating the entire load. In fact, just a few misplaced items or soiled materials can send otherwise recyclable materials straight to the landfill. To help you up your recycling game, here are 12 common recycling mistakes—and smart solutions for each one.
1. Pizza Boxes
Pizza boxes are made from cardboard, a typically recyclable material. However, when they’re smeared with cheese and grease, or have food residue inside, they can’t be recycled by most facilities. The oily, cheesy bottom half is often too contaminated and threatens to soil entire batches of recyclables.
- What to do: Rip off the clean top half—it can be recycled if it’s free of grease and food. Toss the greasy bottom half into the trash or, better yet, compost it if your community accepts food-soiled paper for composting.
2. Containers with Food Leftovers
Containers like yogurt cups, takeout boxes, and bottles often go into the bin with food still inside. Even a small amount of residue can ruin an entire load by spreading contamination.
- What to do: Follow the “empty, clean, and dry” rule. Rinse containers with water before recycling and let them air dry to avoid dampening paper recyclables nearby.
3. Plastic Bags and Film
Plastic grocery bags, bread bags, flexible packaging, and plastic wrap are not accepted in most curbside collection programs. They get tangled in machinery at recycling facilities, causing breakdowns and operational hassles.
- What to do: Return plastic bags to designated drop-off locations at major grocery or retail stores. Consider switching to reusable bags to completely avoid the problem.
4. Tanglers: Cords, Hoses, and Chains
Items like old garden hoses, phone or computer cords, and holiday lights are called “tanglers” because they jam up sorting equipment at recycling plants. Even though some of these objects are plastic or metal, they don’t belong in your curbside bin.
- What to do: Check first for electronics recycling programs, hardware store recycling events, or scrap metal facilities for proper disposal.
5. Clothing and Textiles
Old clothes, towels, shoes, and other textiles are not recyclable in your typical curbside recycling program. Including them can clog sorting machines and contaminate valuable recyclables.
- What to do: Donate still-wearable items to thrift stores or textile-specific recycling programs. Search for textile recycling drop-offs or upcycling initiatives in your area.
6. Shredded Paper
Shredded paper quickly turns into confetti, making it hard for recycling facilities to process. Loose shredded paper easily falls through machinery and mixes with glass or plastic, degrading their value.
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- What to do: If local guidelines allow, put shredded paper in a paper bag, staple shut, and add to recycling. Otherwise, compost it or bring it to special paper recycling facilities.
7. Coffee Cups and Disposable Drinkware
Most disposable hot beverage cups have a thin plastic liner, which makes them nearly impossible to recycle through standard municipal programs. The same applies to many fast-food beverage cups and plastic straws.
- What to do: Trash disposable cups and straws, or switch to reusable mugs and bottles.
8. Caps and Lids
Tiny bits like bottle caps, jar lids, and straws are often made from a different material than their containers. Some facilities want caps removed, while others request they be put back on before recycling. Loose caps are too small to be captured and typically end up as litter.
- What to do: Check with your local program—many now prefer caps on for bottles and jugs (empty and crushed first). Discard loose caps.
9. Paper Towels, Napkins, and Tissues
Although paper, these items are generally made from recycled fibers and are often contaminated after use. Municipal recycling programs do not accept paper towels, napkins, or tissues.
- What to do: Compost these materials where possible, or throw them in the trash if composting isn’t available.
10. Hazardous Materials and Their Containers
Household items like paint cans, batteries, aerosol cans, motor oil bottles, and chemical containers pose environmental and safety risks. They can’t be recycled with regular household recyclables and may endanger workers at the facilities.
- What to do: Take these items to dedicated hazardous waste collection sites, recycling centers, or pharmacy take-back events.
11. Special Packaging: Styrofoam, Black Plastics, and Biodegradable Plastics
Certain packaging materials, such as expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam), black plastic, and items labeled as “compostable” or “biodegradable,” are generally not recyclable in curbside bins. Compostable plastics often end up in landfills, where they take decades to degrade.
- What to do: Avoid these where possible by choosing products with minimal or recyclable packaging. Drop Styrofoam at designated locations, and never put compostable plastics in the regular recycling bin; compost them where commercial composting is offered.
12. Yard Waste and Garden Trimmings
Grass clippings, leaves, and Christmas trees are organic material, but do not belong in your household recycling bin. Yard waste in recycling bins can jam machinery and compromise recyclable material.
- What to do: Participate in community yard waste collections or compost green waste at home.
Why Contaminated Recycling Is a Problem
Improperly recycled items are one of the main reasons why so much of what we put in the blue bin ends up in the landfill. The presence of food residues, non-recyclable plastics, and hazardous materials can contaminate entire truckloads, causing them to be disposed of as trash. This undermines recycling efforts, increases costs for municipalities, and contributes to unnecessary environmental harm.
- Food and liquid residue are the most common contaminants and can easily spread to otherwise viable recyclables like clean cardboard and paper.
- Plastic bags and tanglers can shut down recycling facilities, leading to expensive repairs and inefficiencies.
- Confusing packaging labels (such as the Mobius loop on unrecyclable plastics) often mislead consumers, resulting in misplaced recycling.
Always check your local recycling guidelines, as accepted materials can vary from city to city and even from one facility to another.
Quick Reference Table: Do’s and Don’ts
| Item | Recycle? | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza Box | Sometimes | Only if clean, grease-free parts—otherwise, compost or trash |
| Plastic Bags | No | Return to grocery store bins or use reusable bags |
| Styrofoam | No | Take to special drop-off if available |
| Food Soiled Paper | No | Compost if possible |
| Glass Bottle (clean) | Yes | Rinse, check for local acceptance |
| Plastic Bottles (clean, dry) | Yes | Empty, clean, dry; leave cap on if local program accepts |
| Clothing/Textiles | No | Donate or use textile recycling programs |
| Hazardous Containers | No | Take to hazardous waste facility |
| Coffee Cups | No | Use reusable cups, trash single-use |
How to Be a Smarter Recycler
- When in doubt, throw it out: If you’re unsure whether something can be recycled, play it safe. Wishcycling (putting questionable items in the bin) often does more harm than good.
- Reduce and reuse first: The best waste is the waste never created. Cut back on single-use items and opt for durable or reusable alternatives.
- Know your community’s rules: Every recycling program is different. Guidelines about plastics, paper, and metals may vary by city or region.
- Compost organic materials: Use a backyard compost or community drop-off for food scraps, yard waste, and soiled paper.
- Keep recyclables empty, clean, and dry: This simple habit maximizes the chance your waste will be properly recycled instead of landfilled.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Why can’t I recycle greasy pizza boxes?
A: Grease and food residue on cardboard disrupt paper recycling processes and can cause contamination. Only the clean, grease-free parts should go in the recycling bin.
Q: What should I do with plastic bags?
A: Plastic bags are not accepted in curbside bins. Take them to participating grocery stores or recycling drop-offs.
Q: How clean do containers have to be before recycling?
A: Containers should be empty, clean, and dry. A quick rinse is usually sufficient—just make sure there is no food or liquid remaining.
Q: Can I recycle paper towels and napkins?
A: No, because they are often contaminated and made from low-quality fibers that can’t be recycled further. Compost them if possible.
Q: Is all plastic recyclable?
A: No, many plastics, such as flexible packaging, film, and certain containers, are not accepted and cause confusion. Check your local list to be sure.
Resources for Better Recycling
- Look for community recycling guides from your municipality or city.
- Apps and websites like Earth911 or “Recycling Simplified” from your waste hauler can clarify local rules.
- Follow signage and instructions on your curbside recycling bin or facility drop-off points.
Smart recycling means less contamination, more resources recycled, and a healthier planet for everyone. Next time you reach for the recycling bin, pause to ask—am I sure this belongs here? When in doubt, check your local guidelines or toss it in the trash to prevent bigger problems downstream.
References
- https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/how-to-recycle-better-5-common-mistakes-we-all-make/
- https://www.bellantoni.ca/blogs/eco-guide/the-seven-most-common-recycling-mistakes-people-make-how-to-avoid-them
- https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2020/03/13/fix-recycling-america/
- https://www.bywaters.co.uk/services/common-recycling
- https://keepsmyrnabeautiful.com/common-recycling-mistakes-to-avoid/
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