Last Updated: December 4, 2025
It’s time that we become more than aspirational recyclers! This means finding out whether a discarded item is truly recyclable or better off in the trash. When items that should be sent to the landfill are accidentally recycled (known as wish-cycling), they can wreak havoc on the machines processing your recyclables and increase local processing costs.Plastic bags and bubble wrap, for instance, often tangle around the turbines of the machines and can shut down an entire processing plant, a costly and time-consuming problem. So, do you know when to recycle or when to trash it?
🚨 Important Note on Local Rules: Recycling guidelines are highly dependent on your municipality and processing facility. While this guide covers general best practices, always verify your specific curbside rules on your local city or county website to ensure you are recycling correctly.
Understanding Plastics: The Resin Identification Codes (RICs)
[Image of Resin Identification Codes (RICs) on plastic]You may be shocked to know that not all plastics are created equal. The key to successful plastic recycling is identifying the Resin Identification Code (RIC)—the number inside the chasing arrows symbol.
Materials like plastic bags and plastic film are commonly tossed in the recycling bin, but they are generally not accepted in curbside programs because they are thin, flexible, and cause tangling. Instead, look for designated drop-off bins at local grocery stores or big-box retailers for these plastic film items.
As for smaller items like plastic utensils and straws, they often fall through the sorting screens and end up as non-recycled residue. To avoid slowing down the recycling process, it is safer to throw away all plastics that do not display their RIC number or are not explicitly listed on your local municipal guide. Sticking to the accepted #1 (PETE) and #2 (HDPE) plastics, and to items that display the standard recycling logo, will help you become a responsible recycler.
How to Properly Recycle E-Waste and Batteries
Wondering what to do with your old electronics? E-waste, which includes power cords, computers, and batteries, contains valuable recoverable materials but also hazardous substances like lead and mercury. They are not accepted in curbside bins and must be sent to the correct facility.
For instance, if you have old, unusable power cords or broken cell phones, the safest way to keep them out of the landfill is to send them to your community’s e-waste recycling facility. With a quick internet search, you can find certified e-waste facilities near your location or check for local collection events.
As for batteries, the options are a little broader— thereby making it easier to find a way to keep these single-use products out of the landfill. There are designated locations in your community that accept batteries; you can find them with a quick internet search. As batteries are becoming more commonly recycled, there are companies like Battery Recyclers of America that offer pick-up options that make it convenient to help to improve environmental awareness. *Pro Tip: Always tape the terminals of rechargeable batteries to prevent fires!*
Paper Recycling Rules: When to Toss Contaminated Items
While recycling paper products may seem like a no-brainer, there are a few rules to follow to prevent contamination of an entire batch. For instance, pizza boxes are not eligible for recycling if they are contaminated with grease. The grease compromises the paper’s fiber integrity during the pulping process, rendering the recycled material unusable. If the lid is clean, you can tear off the clean part and recycle only that section.
The same concept applies to paper towels, napkins, and tissues, as they are often contaminated with food, water, and other debris, and their fibers are too short to be recycled. Instead of allowing contaminated products into the recycling plant, it is safer to throw them in the trash or choose a more sustainable alternative. In fact, using old rags and torn shirts as your kitchen towels can be a great way to cut your costs on single-use towels and napkins.
The State of Recycling and How You Can Make a Difference
Recycling may seem confusing; however, its correct practice is crucial to the stability of our environment. If we intend to reduce the volume of single-use plastic entering landfills and polluting our oceans, we need to increase global recycling rates.
We currently recycle only around 9% of all plastic ever produced globally, a figure that has remained stubbornly low (Parker, 2022). While this statistic may seem discouraging and bleak, we can change our viewpoint. Let’s focus on improving the accuracy of our recycling efforts!
Remembering the minor recycling rules listed above will increase the quality of materials processed, thereby making the recycling system more economically viable. Being a responsible recycler means reducing contamination by knowing when to trash it.
Do you know when to trash it? Do you have any tips and tricks for recycling in your community? Share in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
References
Parker, L. (2022). A whopping 91% of plastic isn’t recycled. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-debris-environment
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