Around the world, challenges surrounding Solid Waste Management are intensifying, amplified by limited resources and predominantly municipal authority oversight. Often, only a fraction of generated waste is collected, while the remainder finds its way to improvised dumping sites or is incinerated—a practice that carries significant environmental and health risks. The escalating consumption of resources is yielding a surge in waste generation, further underscoring the pressing need for more comprehensive waste management practices. Regrettably, there is a conspicuous dearth of data on waste management in many developing nations, a critical gap that demands immediate attention. The establishment of a systematic, year-by-year data generation system for each municipal waste management zone is imperative.
The repercussions of inadequate waste management are far-reaching, ranging from clogged drainage systems that exacerbate flooding to discarded waste acting as breeding grounds for disease vectors, a concern highlighted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2007. Adding to the complexity, the management of food waste is emerging as a formidable challenge in these regions, posing a direct threat to sustainable development. With prevailing food waste management systems often proving insufficient and inefficient, developing countries grapple with a mounting burden of sanitary and environmental issues. Notably, the adoption of composting as a solution for food waste management remains largely untapped in these contexts, presenting an opportunity for transformative change.
Recycling challenges
Navigating the world of recycling can be a perplexing endeavor for the average user, primarily due to the significant variations in recycling regulations from state to state. What may be deemed recyclable in one region might not hold true in another. This disparity in guidelines often leaves well-intentioned users uncertain about the proper disposal of their waste, inadvertently leading to contamination of recycling streams. For instance, a material accepted in a recycling program in California may be rejected in a similar program in New York due to differing local policies and infrastructure capabilities – and this is just in the United States.
The lack of a standardized approach to recycling education and regulation exacerbates this confusion. As a result, users may resort to the safest option they know, which is often placing questionable items in the trash, inadvertently increasing the burden on landfills and undermining recycling efforts. Bridging this knowledge gap and establishing clearer, more consistent recycling guidelines is imperative to alleviate this confusion and promote more effective recycling and waste sorting practices.
The impact of user education in sorting waste vs. recyclables
Awareness and education for effective waste management and promoting circularity have gained paramount importance on a global scale, especially in the context of recycling. The repercussions of neglecting this issue are far-reaching, encompassing local, regional, and worldwide concerns such as overfilled landfills, pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and more. As of today, the EPA reports that only 32.1% of waste in the United States is being recycled or composted – so what happens with the rest?
Understanding the impact of our waste generation is important, but also having a comprehensive view of waste characterization and the various disposal methods such as composting, waste collection procedures, and separation of items per waste stream (landfill, organic, electronic, recycling, etc.)
One critical aspect that demands attention is the collection of recyclables free from contamination. Contamination in recycling occurs when non-recyclable materials are mixed in with recyclables, rendering the entire batch unsuitable for proper recycling. This issue stems from a lack of understanding about local recycling regulations and the importance of on-site sorting.
To address this, it is imperative to focus on educating individuals about the specific guidelines and procedures for recycling in their respective communities. Providing easily accessible resources, not only through traditional channels such as TV, radio, brochures, and national promotional campaigns – but also leveraging new technologies at the point of disposal.
Emerging waste management technologies for user education
Mobile Apps and Platforms: With the ubiquity of smartphones, several apps and digital platforms have emerged to provide users with easily accessible and up-to-date information on recycling guidelines in their specific locations. These applications can scan barcodes to determine recyclability, offer tips on proper waste disposal, and even provide notifications about local recycling events and collection schedules.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): AR and VR technologies are being employed to create immersive educational experiences for users. By simulating real-world scenarios, individuals can learn firsthand about proper waste sorting and disposal techniques. This interactive approach can significantly enhance user understanding and retention of crucial information.
Gamification and Interactive Learning: Gamifying waste management education through mobile apps or web-based platforms engages users in an enjoyable and informative manner. Through challenges, quizzes, and virtual rewards, individuals can learn about recycling best practices while having fun.
AI-Powered Recycling Tools: Advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are being developed to assist users in making informed decisions about waste disposal. These systems can analyze images of items to determine their recyclability, providing real-time feedback and guidance.
QR Codes and NFC Technology: Integrating Quick Response (QR) codes and Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology on waste containers or informational materials allows users to access detailed recycling instructions and resources with a simple scan using their smartphones.
By harnessing these new trends and technologies, the waste management industry can foster a more informed and engaged user base, ultimately contributing to more effective and sustainable waste management practices on a broader scale.
Smart bins and waste management systems
Smart Bins with Digital Displays: Incorporating digital displays on smart recycling bins provides users with real-time information on how to properly dispose of their waste. These displays can offer visual prompts, such as images or animations, guiding users to make the correct choices.
RFID Technology: Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags on waste items and bins can help track the type and quantity of waste being generated. Users can receive instant feedback on their disposal habits, allowing them to make more informed decisions.
Mobile Apps for Smart Bins: Dedicated mobile applications can connect users with nearby smart bins. These apps may provide information on bin locations, current fill levels, and even offer tips on proper waste sorting and disposal methods.
Sensor-Based Sorting in Smart Bins: Advanced sensors within smart bins can identify and sort recyclable and non-recyclable materials. This technology can educate users by demonstrating the automated sorting process and highlighting the importance of correct waste separation.
Data Analytics and Reporting: Smart bins equipped with data analytics capabilities can generate reports on waste generation patterns, providing valuable insights for both users and waste management authorities. This information can be used to tailor educational initiatives and improve overall waste management strategies.
By incorporating these features into smart bins, waste management systems can not only enhance operational efficiency but also serve as valuable educational tools for users, fostering a culture of responsible waste disposal and environmental stewardship.
Most of us consider recycling a viable solution to our growing waste issue. However, not all recycling is equal, especially when it comes to certain materials, such as plastic. Every time we recycle, the materials decline in strength and value until they eventually become landfill waste.
Recycling paper, glass and metal is a complete or closed-loop cycle, while plastic is generally not. According to the EPA, only about 8.7% of the plastic waste generated in the U.S. was recycled in 2018, most of which was downcycled.
Recycling, downcycling, and upcycling are all practices that aim to divert waste from landfills. This article will discuss each approach and determine which is most sustainable.
What is Downcycling Versus Upcycling?
Downcycling, also known as cascading or open-loop recycling, refers to the practice of recycling waste, which results in a material of lesser quality than the original product. Unlike more sustainable recycling processes, downcycled products decrease in value and cannot be used for the same purpose. Examples of downcycling are turning plastic bottles into fleece or carpet fiber or downcycling paper into paper towels, tissue paper, or egg cartons.
Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, refers to reusing or recycling an object in a way that appreciates its original value. Using a plastic bottle as a planter, an old tire as furniture, or repurposing jars for candles are all examples of upcycling.
Unlike traditional recycling, which breaks everything down to its baser components, upcycling involves using waste materials as they are. Upcycling is a more creative venture and reimagines how materials can be used.
Which Approach is Better for The Environment?
Within the realm of waste management and recycling, downcycling and upcycling are two distinct approaches that differ from recycling, but like recycling, they aim to divert waste from landfills and reduce emissions. We should also consider recycling from two perspectives: open-loop and closed-loop. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages, and this section explores the environmental impacts of each.
Upcycling offers many advantages over recycling and downcycling. Upcycling creates products of higher value than the originals, resulting in a whole new market for high-quality upcycled products. It also minimizes the demand for virgin materials, which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Upcycling supports local economies and creates new jobs by promoting small-scale manufacturing and artisanal production. Finally, upcycling helps people think creatively about waste materials. Where they used to see trash is now an opportunity for something better.
The main advantage of downcycling is that it reuses materials. However, we must recognize the many drawbacks of downcycling. In most cases, it decreases the value of the material, making it less economically viable than traditional recycling approaches. This is especially true with plastics. It’s important to note that downcycling still requires a lot of energy, and the outcome may not be worth the resource expenditure. Additionally, the issue of “circularity” remains. Downcycling cannot be considered a circular process since it leads to a gradual loss of materials. Even when done effectively, downcycling is only temporary, and the material will eventually become waste.
Despite all these limitations, downcycling still plays a role in reducing waste and promoting sustainability. By keeping waste materials out of landfills or incinerators, downcycling can help reduce the negative impacts of waste disposal on the environment and public health. However, we cannot consider downcycling as a replacement for more sustainable strategies like closed-loop recycling or upcycling. Instead, it should be viewed as a small piece of a larger puzzle in promoting sustainable waste management practices.
True closed-loop recycling, which results in materials of similar value as the original, is also a highly effective waste management approach. Like upcycling, this strategy conserves virgin resources, and when it comes to a product’s end of life, many materials, including glass and aluminum, can be effectively recycled and reused using this methodology.
Shifting the Paradigm: Embracing Upcycling for a Sustainable Future
We must explore waste management and resource conservation strategies in our search for a healthier future planet. Recycling, downcycling, and upcycling all reduce waste and contribute to sustainability. However, downcycling should only be used to complement more sustainable recycling strategies. Upcycling, overall, is better than downcycling and recycling at reducing waste and contributing to a circular economy.
The reality is that most of the products we use end up in a landfill, and there’s no guarantee that everything that goes to a recycling facility will be recycled or transformed. Upcycling helps reduce waste, conserve resources, foster creativity, stimulate local economies, and promote a more sustainable lifestyle. More knowledge about and investment in closed-loop recycling and upcycling can create a world where waste is minimized, resources are conserved, and sustainable practices are celebrated.
“I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand.” — Confucius, 450 BC
In recent years, experiential learning has emerged as a methodology to pass on knowledge and encourage skill adoption. It’s a hands-on approach to education that empowers individuals to learn by doing and has exhibited promising results. If experiential learning is an effective way of instilling knowledge, can it help save recycling?
This article explores the experiential learning process and its potential to enhance recycling behaviors, as well as some practical ways to incorporate experiential learning into recycling education and initiatives.
What is Experiential Learning?
Experiential learning is learning something by doing, reflecting, and applying the knowledge and skills in real life. The experiential learning process allows learners to explore, collaborate, and reflect on what they do to fully accumulate new skills and knowledge. Some common examples of experiential learning are internships, clinical education, student teaching, fieldwork, simulation, and community-based research.
The Psychology of Recycling Behaviors
Studies show when it comes to recycling, people tend to get swayed easily, and small details often result in big behavioral changes. Something as small as the shape of a soda can has an effect on whether we recycle it.
A study conducted by a team of psychologists revealed that people were significantly more likely to recycle when their name was spelled correctly on their cups. 48% of those who had their names spelled right recycled their cup as opposed to 26% who had no name on the cup and 24% of those who had their names misspelled. An author of the study, Jennifer Argo, said:
“We are averse to trashing something that is tied to our identity, as it would be conceptually similar to trashing a part of the self, which makes people more likely to recycle.”
In another study, Argo and her co-author Remi Trudel discovered that an object is more likely to get recycled if it’s in its original shape. For example, a crushed can is considered damaged and is more likely to end up in a trash bin. Additionally, a ripped sheet of paper or small bits of paper is more likely to end up in the trash than a large sheet, even if the quantity is more. Argo explains this:
“When items become damaged, they differ from the ‘prototype’ or ideal version of that product, and as a result, they are perceived as being less useful. As consumers, we tend to equate things that are useless with garbage.”
In a nutshell, human psychology and recycling behaviors are complicated but predictable. Once we know how perception impacts behavior, we can adjust education accordingly.
Incorporating Experiential Learning into
Recycling Initiatives
A report by the World Economic Forum showed that globally 25% of people do not recycle because they don’t know how to participate in recycling programs. This lack of knowledge is one of the most common barriers to recycling. Experiential learning programs can help people start recycling, and by doing, they will gain knowledge and confidence to continue the behavior. Here are a few simple ways individuals and facilities can incorporate experiential learning into their recycling initiatives.
For Individuals
Create interactive displays that explain the importance of recycling and show how to properly sort recyclables.
Host hands-on workshops where participants get an opportunity to make DIY projects out of recycled materials or compost their own food waste. Local community centers are great places to conduct these activities.
Organize recycling challenges that encourage participants to recycle more (or better). For example, a challenge to reduce waste output by a certain percentage.
Support community projects that encourage sustainable waste practices, like community gardens, city composting programs, donation services, and charity organizations.
For Facilities
Organize activities to sort different types of materials via hands-on training programs or interactive workshops. Implementing a smart recycling bin like TrashBot can help eliminate recycling contamination and educate users about sorting.
Conduct regular waste audits to identify areas where waste can be reduced, like cutting down on or reusing packaging. TrashBot can provide facilities with on-demand waste audits and analytics on their waste stream.
Prioritize recycling education byprovidingemployees and visitors with ways to learn about recycling and waste reduction. Hosting recycling competitionsbetween different departments (or teams) can also encourage better recycling behaviors.
Experiential Learning Success Stories
Experiential learning is not an entirely new concept. It’s currently being practiced in several companies, including the Port of Portland, Oregon, to improve recycling behaviors among its employees. The port’s sustainability program, PDX Green, has implemented initiatives to promote sustainable practices. A few examples include:
Recycling tours to recycling facilities for interested employees where they see how recyclables are sorted and processed firsthand.
An annual recycling Olympics where employees compete in games and challenges related to recycling and waste reduction.
Green teams formed to promote sustainable recycling behaviors.
Composting programs to reduce food waste at the port’s restaurants and cafes.
To expedite recycling in the US, states like South Carolina are moving towards using experiential learning in recycling. The Market Development team at the S.C. Department of Commerce is partnering with the S.C. Office of Career Services to provide recycling industry-focused experiential learning to students in order to support the recycling industry. It was designed to help students gain hands-on experience in a professional workplace setting and encourage them to think outside the box. Initiatives like this are an excellent way to support the growing recycling industry and help people start a career in the sector.
Leveraging Experiential Learning to Improve
Recycling
Recycling is more than a choice. It’s a necessity and something that should become a part of our daily routine. While it seems simple, recycling can be difficult to achieve consistently. The rules and regulations vary widely, only certain materials can be recycled in specific forms, and recycling contamination still remains an issue.
Experiential learning could be the key to recycling education for any individual. Proponents of experiential learning say that individuals are more motivated to learn when they have a personal stake in the subject. Learning by doing and reflecting on the doing is the best way to see and experience how your actions make an impact.
On the other hand, sorting recyclables is about more than just recycling; it’s about practicing ways to reduce waste. Sorting our trash makes us wonder what we can reuse, repurpose, or put to better use. Alongside recycling education, experiential learning helps us appreciate that our actions make a difference.
The idea of trash is simple. We all make it, and we all throw it away. The presence and disposal of waste are so commonplace that most people hardly think of it. Recycling, on the other hand, is a more complex idea.
A recent survey reports that 94 percent of Americans support recycling and 74 percent say it should be a priority. However, the EPA notes that the national average recycling rate is only 34.7 percent. There are many reasons we are failing at recycling, from education to infrastructure and logistics, to cost, to psychology. Recycling is complicated, and the current system, unfortunately, does not set us up for success.
Why are We So Bad at Recycling?
Recycling Rules Vary from Place to Place
One of the biggest challenges to recycling is that the recycling rules and regulations vary from place to place. Different countries, states, provinces, and even cities may have their own recycling regulations and guidelines. Some sites offer comprehensive recycling programs where a wide range of materials are accepted. At the same time, other places may offer more limited programs receiving only certain types of materials.
Current Manufacturing Processes Do Not Accommodate Recycling
Our current manufacturing process does not accommodate recycling. Most products are designed for single-use rather than reuse or recycling. On the other hand, most products are made with a combination of materials that are often hard to separate or recycle. The dyes, coatings, and additives also make recycling difficult, as the chemicals must be removed before recycling can occur.
For companies, it’s more economically feasible to manufacture products using new materials rather than recycled materials.
Accessibility & Lack of Recycling Infrastructure
The types of accepted materials vary depending on the local recycling infrastructure. Cardboard and paper are accepted in most places. However, finding a place to recycle your electronics and plastics can be trickier. Even if it’s possible to recycle something, it’s not always economically feasible as most materials get contaminated, making it difficult or impossible to recycle.
In addition, most Americans don’t have access to recycling resources where they live, even today, and rural recycling is a big challenge. Due to a lack of resources, small towns often don’t have the budget for recycling programs, and it’s difficult to prove the economic viability of such programs in order to attract external waste management companies.
Single-use Products are Convenient
Our current product landscape is full of single-use materials designed to be thrown away. For consumers, it’s generally easier to buy disposable products because this is more common and encouraged. There is also no need to clean or wash these products before and after use, and no extra effort is required to dispose of them. Reusable, compostable, and recyclable products, on the other hand, are generally more expensive and sometimes need a lifestyle change.
Misinformation about Recycling
Like most things, misinformation can be the biggest obstacle to recycling. It leads to confusion about what can and cannot be recycled. Mixing recyclables and non-recyclables contaminates the entire batch and makes recycling even more difficult. Sorting is the key to recycling, and misinformation also leads to incorrect sorting, contaminating the materials. When recycling looks too complicated, and they keep making mistakes, people often get discouraged and stop doing it altogether.
Wishcycling
Wishcycling is putting materials in the recycling bin and wishing they will be recycled. Recycling, unfortunately, does not work that way. If a facility can process only plastics, sending glass or cardboard there will only lead to more issues. The mixing of recyclables and non-recyclables will contaminate the entire recycling stream.
Wishcycling can also make the already costly recycling process costlier. Sorting and removing non-recyclables from the recycling stream requires a lot of manual effort, making it expensive and burdensome.
How Can We Get Better at Recycling?
Don’t be a Wishcycler
Wishcycling threatens the recycling system, and there are multiple ways that you can avoid this behavior. Here are a few tips:
1. Check your local recycling guidelines and stay up-to-date on recycling rules and regulations.
2. Consider learning more about recycling and what materials can be easily recycled.
3. Think before you put something in the bin.
Harness the Power of Influence
Social influence plays a crucial role in pushing people towards recycling. As social creatures, we tend to do things that everyone is doing (for example, TikTok trends). Following the findings of an experiment conducted by psychologist Rober Cialdini in 1991, a series of TV ads were crafted. In the ads, people who recycled spoke approvingly of recycling while disparaging an individual who did not. The communities showing the ad recorded a 25% increase in recycling rates.
Shared commitment and accountability can be great motivators for recycling, and normalizing recycling behaviors will result in more people committing to this effort.
Make Recycling More Accessible
Making recycling more accessible is about more than just having recycling bins around the neighborhood. Cities and communities should provide information and education on what and how to recycle. Offering incentives like discounts or cashback can also be a great way to encourage recycling. Convenient collection options like curbside pickup or drop-off also remove the barriers for people to recycle.
Collect Recycling Data to Make Informed Decisions
We need quality data to encourage recycling and make more informed decisions. Surveys and tracking technologies (like TrashBot) can be a great way to gather data on the waste stream. You can then monitor and analyze the records to identify areas of improvement and make necessary changes. Data-driven education is also key in ensuring recycling programs’ ROI.
Investing in Recycling Technologies like TrashBot
With the threat of climate change, recycling is just not enough. When it comes to humans, there’s always some margin for error, which is why we need to invest in effective recycling technologies like TrashBot. TrashBot comes equipped with technology that sorts trash 300% more accurately than humans. It allows recycling programs to be more effective and drives significant environmental impact. Other companies like Recycleye are making waste management more efficient with sorting technology and AI robots.
A Collective Effort Toward Better Recycling
You need to practice to improve at anything, and the same goes for recycling. Getting better at recycling requires a combination of individual and collective effort, education, infrastructure, and investment in recycling technologies. Working together, we can make recycling achievable.
For centuries, philosophers have debated whether people are instinctively good or bad, and recent studies show that our first impulses are generally selfless. When it comes to recycling, people want to do right by the environment by recycling and living a conscious lifestyle. However, what they don’t know is how to do it properly.
A recent survey by Republic Services revealed that 88% percent of the respondents said that recycling is important but nearly all of them failed that basic recycling quiz. What’s even more surprising is that only 4% of the respondents scored an A on the quiz. Since people have good intentions, we can only assume that the issue is a lack of recycling data and education among the masses.
How Wishcycling is Doing More Harm than Good
Whether you’re new to recycling or a seasoned pro, recycling labeling can be a challenge. People often believe that all recyclables can be recycled curbside or that everything with a recycling symbol can be recycled. While confusions and misconceptions are one thing, wishcycling is a whole other story.
Wishcycling (also known as aspirational recycling) is when you put items in the recycling bin hoping that they will be recycled despite the rules stating otherwise. What makes Wishcycling more harmful to the environment is that it contaminates the entire batch and everything that could be recycled ends up in a landfill. The recycling industry is struggling as it is and aspirational recycling often ends up causing facilities to dedicate more resources to sorting the items.
“A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”
When people don’t know exactly what to do, they decide to go with what they think they should do. In recycling, that can be worse, and educating people about recycling can help us avoid wishcycling and bring us one step closer to a better tomorrow.
Recycling Data is Power
Over the last two decades, people have realized the importance of data. It helps us understand how certain things happen, help us make better decisions, and work smarter. Companies like Google and Amazon have leveraged data to improve and boost their ROI. Scientists are currently using data to understand the rapidly changing environment and how to combat climate change.
Data helps to recycle in many ways, like pinpointing the root causes behind recycling problems and resolving those. For example, in Europe, trash disposal generally costs households, while recycling is free. It can also help companies develop technologies like recycling robots, smart bins, and other solutions that streamline the recycling process and make it faster.
Another great way that data can help companies recycle is identifying areas where they are creating waste. That way, they can develop a solution to reduce waste and turn towards more environment-friendly options.
Leveraging Recycling Data for Recycling Education
What happens if you throw the coffee grounds into the recycling bin? The most likely scenario is that everything in the recycling bin goes to waste. While recycling is important, what’s even more important is knowing what and how to recycle. If you mix recyclables with non-recyclables, all your effort can go in vain.
That’s where recycling education comes in. In a world where people want to do good but make mistakes, the best course of action is to use data and educate people about what to do and how.
How to Start Practical Recycling Education
Starting recycling education can start from the very top i.e., our schools. Republic Services, with the help of educators, has designed a free, downloadable curriculum that is designed to educate students about recycling. This has the potential to not only educate the students but also change their mindset from the very beginning.
Another way to drive public change is through direct feedback. In a Texas Municipality, a public education campaign was led to decrease contamination rates in household recycling. The campaign included giving out tips, marketing, and direct home-to-home fliers to educate the people. It also included an eight-week-long audit during which the inspectors would check residents’ recycling bins and leave an “Oops” tag where they found contaminants. By the end of the audit, the contamination rates went from 21% to 11% within eight weeks.
As the contamination rate went down, so did the cost of collecting and processing recyclables. Cleaner recyclables also have more value than materials like aluminum cans and plastic water bottles.
Standardizing Recycling Metrics
A recent study by the Consumer Brands Association revealed that many Americans find recycling more difficult to understand than taxes. What makes recycling so difficult to understand is the lack of centralized standards for reporting recycling metrics. Even the definition of recycling across the country is not uniform.
Without a foundation, we’re running blind. It’s impossible to address issues and improve the architecture without a proper foundation.
To address this issue, the Recycling Leadership Council (RLC) is calling for a national strategy for recycling in Blueprint for America’s Recycling System. That involves a policy action, including a plan to enhance data collection, which can be leveraged towards fixing recycling issues in the United States.
Educate People at the Point of Disposal
Recycling education is important, but when and how should we educate the people?
A great way to educate people about recycling is right when they’re about to throw something into the bin. However, you can only put so many stickers on a bin, and conventional bins don’t come equipped with a screen and content management system. That’s where smart bins like TrashBot come in.
TrashBot sorts items at the time of disposal and disposes of items into the right bins, but that’s not all! TrashBot also comes with an in-built screen and a content management system so you can show users anything you want. A great way to educate the users while sorting waste and gathering data at the same time!
For the recycling industry, wishcycling is a nightmare. Waste that isn’t properly separated and cleaned requires extra labor and can contaminate the entire recycling stream. That way, even when someone is aspiring to be good, they end up creating even more waste.
In this article, we will discuss what Wishcycling is, why it’s bad for recycling, and how to put a stop to it.
What is Wishcycling?
Wishcycling is the practice of putting things in your trash and expecting that they will be recycled even though recycling rules clearly state that they wouldn’t. Some people call it “aspirational recycling” because they are hoping or assuming that something is recyclable when it isn’t.
What Makes Wishcycling Bad for the Environment?
What makes wishcycling bad for the environment is that most people don’t know what should or shouldn’t be recycled. They dump recyclables with nonrecyclable items, which contaminates the recyclables. Contamination reduces or eliminates the quality of the materials and most of it ends up in landfills. Katie Tyson Higdon, the COO, and co-founder of Hive said:
“Aspirational recycling costs financially strapped recycling facilities more money to process the waste that they can’t recycle.”
How is Wishcycling Harming the Recycling Industry?
Did you know that according to the EPA, 75 percent of our waste stream can be recycled? However, only 32 percent is actually recycled. This has less to do with people not wanting to recycle and more with recycling being done the wrong way.
People are confused about what should and shouldn’t be recycled and end up mixing recyclables with non-recyclable items that they think to belong together. For example, many people assume that recycling and composting are the same things while they are not. When we mix recyclables with compostables, we end up contaminating the entire waste stream.
Wishcycling leads to a waste of time, money, and resources, so much so that it poses a serious threat to the recycling industry. Our waste stream is processed at a material recovery facility (MRF), but no two MRFs are the same. Adding items that cannot be recycled to your recycling stream means that nothing gets recycled until the equipment runs again.
Shutting down and restarting the process is not just expensive but happens way too frequently. If recycling becomes too uneconomical, local governments will start rethinking it. Sorting our waste properly is the best way to keep recycling affordable.
Why are People Wishcycling?
What do we do when they don’t know the answer to something? Go with our best guess and it usually works, but not when it comes to recycling. The Pew Research Center found that about 59 percent of Americans believe that most items can be recycled and that their miscellaneous recyclables are sorted efficiently later. Unfortunately, going with your best guess is the worst way to recycle.
If you’re uncertain about what to recycle, then dig a little deeper and start sorting your waste stream efficiently in the first place. Don’t wish for the recycling facility to sort the waste for you, because it’s likely contaminated and will end up in the landfills.
How to stop Wishcycling?
Educate at the Point of Disposal
The biggest reason behind wishcycling is the lack of proper recycling education. And the best place to tell people what to put where is right is when they’re about to dispose of something.
Smart bins like TrashBot can help educate people on recycling by showing relevant information on their built-in screens. Each TrashBot comes equipped with a built-in content management system and screen that can be used for advertisement or to educate the public about recycles.
Learn Your Local Recycling Rules
What makes recycling more confusing is the different recycling rules in different parts of the world. In every region, the recycling rules are slightly different, which is why it’s important to learn your local rules and guidelines given by authorities. That way, you will know what can and cannot be recycled and bring yourself one step closer to stopping wishcycling.
Know the Recycling Dos and Don’ts
An important step to stop wishcycling is by knowing the dos and don’ts of recycling. The following table lists some common recycling dos and don’ts:
Recycling Dos
Recycling Don’ts
Cardboard
Food residue
Paper
Garden greens
Aluminum cans
Diapers
Plastic disposables
Items smaller than three inches
Tissues, napkins, paper towels
Make Sure Your Recyclables are Clean and Dry
Even putting the right items in the recycling bin can go in vain if everything is not clean and dry. Dirty items can contaminate other items in the bin, which decreases or eliminates the value of recyclables. Before putting anything in the recycling bin, make sure that your recyclables are clean and dry. Anything greasy or oily will ruin the whole batch and it will all go to waste.
When in Doubt, throw it in the Trash
The golden rule of recycling is to put anything that you’re unsure about into the trash bin. That way, you will be avoiding wishcycling and saving the whole batch from being destroyed.
Reduce Your Waste
Finally, recycling is just one step towards saving the environment. The best way to move forward is by reducing the amount of waste that you generate in the first place. Start using reusable items and avoid using disposable items that create more waste.
Take the First Step Towards Smart Recycling
Stopping wishcycling is as simple as putting the right item in the right bin. Here are five things we often get wrong that you can stop today.
Pizza box goes into the recycling bin BUT remove all food residue and sauces before.
Coffee cups do not go into the recycling bin and can sometimes be returned to the coffee shop.
Ceck the local recycling rules about ready-to-eat meal boxes. Clean the plastic container and put it in the recycling bin and put the plastic film in general waste.
