Recycle with Confidence

We’ve all heard stories about people who thought they were recycling only to learn that their bottles were ending up in the same landfill as regular trash. It’s a tragedy really - because we do all this work, only to be disappointed in the system.

This is partly due to improper recycling habits and our lack of recycling infrastructure in the US.

Unfortunately, plastics that aren’t rinsed, sorted and disposed of correctly become a strain on the existing infrastructure and continue to fuel the argument that all plastics are bad.

The thing is, part of this strain is because recycling in the US is disaggregated, which means that depending upon where you are, what to recycle varies.

Here’s the good news - you can do something about it!

For us to get the most out of plastic, the process of ending waste is so much more than the 4 Rs (refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle). The way we tackle this challenge also requires research. Finding information on what your local recycling looks like is paramount to keeping plastics out of our oceans and back in the economy.

Contacting your municipality and learning about their recycling policies is the first step to ensuring that your recycling ends up where it belongs.
If you don’t have recycling, find out where the nearest recycling center is and ask permission to drop your items there.

The second step in the process is knowing what plastics are accepted at the recycling center. Most often, plastics one and two are accepted. Distinguishing what can be recycled vs. what can’t, helps us make better decisions about the products we purchase, so be sure to look for the chasing arrows symbol on the bottom of the item.

Good Practice Tip: Always rinse the items you plan to recycle.

As we continue to build the recycling infrastructure, everyone doing their part in the fight against waste is essential.

Now, go out and recycle with confidence!