Accepted, but not actually recycled. Maybe downcycled, at best, but the industry has pretty much capitulated to collecting useless plastic and sidestreaming it to landfill.
It's infuriating to know that there's a LOT less things you can actually recycle than what you're told by everyone. It almost makes all of our efforts feel fruitless.
I painted the plastic #s that my area recycles on the side of my bin. Makes it so much easier to know what I can and can't throw in there. A surprising amt is discluded.
Some of those can be recycled or re-used, but ONLY if your local recycling center accepts them. For instance, plant pots and buckets are collected and re-used where I live. Metal (like those hangers) is also collected, but not in our street bins. Please, if you recycle, know your local rules!
Plastic isn't really recyclable & we end up using more energy transporting plastics to alternate dumping locations. The plastic that can be recycled takes a lot of energy to do so & there is little market demand for it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm an avid recycler. But I'm furious that I was lied to
Yup, that's the lie I have believed since I was a child. I've been recycling for 36 years. I used to bring home my bottles & cans from parties, so I struggle to throw out plastic because it's just so ingrained in me.
We finally got free recycling pick up service & then I learn this 😡
It’s not the fault of that place. MOST of what folks assume is recyclable really isn’t, functionally. Only 2 out of dozens of types of plastics—even those with the ♻️ symbol—can be recycled practically. Metals recycle, unless they’re coated, which most are, etc.
About 20% of ♳ and ♴ might be downcycled (not truly recycled), most of the plastic collected "for recycling" ends up as sidestream waste, burned or dumped.
The real solution is to refuse disposable plastic.
Know your local rules. We moved from an area where plastics were all about the number to one where it's about the size and shape. I see things on that board that are recyclable where we are, but know that we have other things that would be on the board here.
Comments
Don't get me wrong, I'm an avid recycler. But I'm furious that I was lied to
We finally got free recycling pick up service & then I learn this 😡
https://plasticactioncentre.ca/directory/plastic-by-the-numbers/
It's really best to check your local jurisdiction's capabilities; they take less here in CA than they did in MD.
The real solution is to refuse disposable plastic.
Yes, labels.
Yes, no rinsing.
Yes, ceramics.
Yes, lids.
Yes, MRF glass.