"Many of us have been guilty of "wish-cycling" - tossing just about every piece of paper, plastic, metal, or glass in the blue bin because it should be recyclable. Unfortunately, recycling is more complicated than that. What belongs in curbside recycling bins varies widely in the US. "There are literally thousands of recycling standards across the country," Rajesh Buch, a professor at Arizona State University, where he teaches a course on sustainable business, told Business Insider."
"That's, in part, because recycling systems that can sort through piles of discarded items can cost tens of millions of dollars. "In most communities," he said, "they don't have the resources to have these fully loaded, full-capacity systems." Conflicting standards can be confusing, but dumping every container or scrap can contaminate the waste stream, Buch said. The EPA's estimate put recycling's contamination rate at 25%."
Many people engage in wish-cycling by tossing most papers, plastics, metals, and glass into curbside recycling bins. Curbside recycling rules differ widely across US communities, with thousands of distinct standards. Sorting-capable recycling systems can cost tens of millions of dollars, so many municipalities lack full-capacity equipment. Conflicting local standards increase confusion and raise contamination risk in the recycling stream; the EPA estimates a 25% contamination rate. Residents should check municipal recycling rules, use resources like Earth911, or pay specialized companies such as TerraCycle. Several materials require drop-off at special recycling facilities or belong in the trash.
Read at Business Insider
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