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What’s Going on With Recycling? BY AUSTRIA COHN
18 APRIL 2024 | NOLAFAMILY.COM Unfortunately, this rumor is true. According to the Organisation Sometimes, the discussion around global warming, plastic in the ocean, and recyclables in the landfill can feel doomsday-worthy. As a society, we do have to adjust some of our practices in order to combat climate change. Rather than sitting awake at night worrying about climate change, take a realistic (and sustainable) step to help the natural world by minimizing your plastic use and properly recycling. The Recycle Problem We’ve all probably heard the rumors that a small percentage of items that are put in the blue bin are actually recycled. W ith Earth Day right around the corner, it’s essential to discuss what’s going on in our environment. When daily life requires single-use plastic bags, styrofoam take- home containers, film popcorn buckets, and other items that are hurting the natural world, Earth Day is a time to reevaluate our habits.
for Economic Co-operation and Development, only 9 percent of plastic waste is recycled. The report found that in the U.S., 73 percent went in the landfill, 19 percent was incinerated, 4 percent was mismanaged, and only 4 percent was actually recycled. These poor statistics exist for several reasons, including it’s expensive to recycle, certain plastics cannot be recycled, and consumers are disposing of their recyclables improperly. One of the three reasons plastic waste is not being recycled is in the consumer’s control—recycling goods properly. There are three basic rules when it comes to recycling that every consumer should follow. Know the Recyclable Items If you recycle in your home, you’re not helping the environment if you’re putting nonrecyclable items in the bin. It’s always important to check if an item can be recycled. When it comes to plastic items, each one has a triangle on the bottom with a number in the middle. This
number tells you what kind of plastic it’s made out of. Numbers 1-7 can be put in the recycle bin. If you’re unsure whether an item is recyclable, take a minute out of your day and look it up. Recyclable Items: - Plastic Bottles & Containers - Paper - Glass Bottles & Containers - Flattened Cardboard & Paperboard - Food & Beverage Cans (Aluminum and Steel) Nonrecyclable Items: - Food & Liquids - Foam Cups & Containers - Green Waste - Batteries - Loose Plastic Bags, Bagged Recyclables, or Film - Clothing, Furniture, Carpet - Bubble Wrap Empty, Clean & Dry If you recycle in your home, this is an essential step: only put empty, clean, and dry items into a recycle bin.
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