Statistics show that out of the millions of tons of waste that ends up in landfills each year, many of the materials are recyclable materials such as wood, paper, cardboard, or plastic. With so many recycling programs operating in cities and the workplace, why is so much material still going to the landfill? The reasons could be a lack of knowledge of what is required for a recycling company to take the recyclables. Keep these methods in mind when preparing recycling for pick up in order to ensure your recyclables don’t end up in the landfill.

Clean and Dry

Recyclables need to be pretty clean before they get put in the recycling bin. They don’t need to be perfect, but they should be free from crusted remains. Dirty recyclables can contaminate the whole batch and ruin what could have been recycled. 

Use soap and hot water if possible to clean recyclables before placing them in office recycling containers.

Give Away What Can Be Reused

A good way to ensure recyclables can be reused is to give them to someone who can use them. 

Recycling companies are limited in what they can accept. Just because the recycling company won’t accept them doesn’t mean someone else can’t use them. Post used jars, cardboard, plastic jugs, or any other type of material on neighborhood sites to see if anyone can reuse items for household projects.

Know Your District

Not everything can be recycled in every city. Know your district. Know the rules and what your local recycling pick-up will accept. Pay attention to the recycling numbers on each material as each recycling center will accept only certain numbers, meaning certain recycling materials. If curbside recycling pick up can’t take certain items, sometimes local recycling companies will be able to. Look around and find recycling programs in your area and research what they will take. 

For example, auto oil containers could be recycled but aren’t accepted from recycling pickup programs. However, some local auto shops will take them to be recycled. The more that can be recycled, the less will end up in landfills each year.

For more information about office recycling programs and what can or cannot be accepted, contact Mission Recycle.