Truths & Myths About Recycling In The United States

I’m sure you’ve heard of or have even participated in the ongoing debate of recycling or have maybe even wondered if what you’re putting in the bin, is actually getting recycled.

Let’s talk about some truths and myths about recycling in the United States:

Myth: Recycling is always environmentally friendly.

Truth: While recycling can be beneficial for the environment, it's not always the most environmentally friendly option. For example, it takes a lot of energy to recycle certain materials like plastics, and the transportation of recycled materials can also contribute to carbon emissions.

Myth: All recycled materials are reused.

Truth: Not all recycled materials are reused. Some materials may be contaminated, damaged or not suitable for recycling, so they end up in landfills or incinerators. It's also possible that recycled materials are not cost-effective to recycle, which means they may be sent to a landfill instead.

Myth: Recycling is expensive.

Truth: Recycling can actually save money in the long run. By recycling materials, businesses and governments can reduce the amount of waste they need to dispose of in landfills or incinerators, which can be costly. Recycling also creates jobs and can stimulate local economies.

Myth: It's not worth recycling if others don't participate.

Truth: Even if others don't participate in recycling, it's still worth doing it yourself. Every little bit helps, and the more people who recycle, the more resources that can be conserved and the less waste that ends up in landfills.

Myth: Recycling is a recent concept.

Truth: Recycling has been around for centuries. For example, people in ancient civilizations would reuse materials like metals and textiles to create new items. In the United States, recycling became more common in the 1960s and 1970s, but the concept has been around for much longer.

Myth: All materials are equally recyclable.

Truth: Not all materials are equally recyclable. Some materials, like glass and aluminum, can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality, while others, like plastic, can only be recycled a limited number of times. It's also important to note that not all types of plastics can be recycled in every community.

Myth: Recycling is always better than throwing things away.

Truth: Recycling is not always the best option. Sometimes it's better to reduce the amount of waste generated in the first place by choosing to buy products with less packaging or buying items that can be reused multiple times. Additionally, some materials may be more environmentally friendly to dispose of in other ways, such as composting organic matter.

Ultimately, I’d say the best option all around is to reduce your waste & recycling entirely. Ways you can do this is buy shopping at local farmers markets, shopping in the bulk session, bringing your own bag to stores, opting for package-free shops, reusable cups and water bottles, etc.. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it :)