Recycling is more than just looking for the recycling label on a container and chucking it into the recycling bin. In fact, careless recycling can sometimes do more harm than good, even contaminating the recycling batch so that none of it can be salvaged. It’s important for conscientious citizens not just to recycle but to know the right ways to recycle. Here are some of the most important tips to keep in mind.
Clean Plastic Containers Before Recycling
Sure, that soda bottle might be recyclable, but it’s a good idea to rinse it out first so that no remnants of sticky, sugary soda remain. Food and liquid waste can potentially contaminate other items within your recycling bin, so it’s a good idea to clean your recyclables before you recycle them. This is especially true for plastic containers that once held chemical cleaners, as those chemicals are often toxic.
Keep Food Waste Out
Most Brazos Valley residents know that the recycling bin is no place for apple cores or sandwich crusts. Fortunately, most food waste like this can be composted, so it still doesn’t have to go in the trash bin. But did you know that used pizza boxes are also out of bounds? The grease from the pizza can bleed through the cardboard and onto other recyclable items, ruining the batch. Be careful to keep food waste out of your recycling bin.
Watch For Instructions While Recycling Out
You may have your recycling covered at home, but when you’re out for a walk, at the office, or at a coffee shop or restaurant, you may not know exactly what kind of recycling is used. Single stream recycling is the most efficient method — it allows all recycling types to be collected and then sorted at the recycling center. But not everyone uses single stream recycling, so if you’re out, make sure to look for instructions on the recycling bin. Some may lay out that one bin is for paper cups and cardboard while the other is for plastics, or may have pictures of exactly what goes in each bin.
It helps to have a trustworthy recycling service in the first place. BV Trash Valet & Recycling accepts more materials than the competition because we use single stream recycling. Interested in signing up for our weekly trash and recycling pick-up? Contact us today for more information to get started.
