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May 9th, 2024
Recycling is the eco-champion of waste management, but sometimes good intentions go astray. Enter wishcycling, the act of crossing your fingers, throwing things into the recycling bin and hoping for the best.
While well-meaning, wishcycling throws a wrench in the well-oiled gears of recycling, potentially contaminating entire batches and sending perfectly recyclable materials to landfills.
With so many different regulations out there, it’s no surprise that people aren’t 100% certain on what can and can’t be recycled. That’s where we come in. At NRC, we’re experts in all things waste management. So, let’s untangle the confusion and give you the information you need to recycle with confidence.
Key Points
Why is Wishcycling Bad?
While it may seem harmless, wishcycling can have big, negative impacts. Here are the main reasons why:
Contamination
When we throw items into the recycling bin without being sure they’re recyclable, we risk contaminating the whole batch. Whether it’s plastic film from work lunchtimes, or laminated paper from the office, these items could end up sending the whole batch to landfill. The result? Mountains of lost resources and a strain on the environment.
Sorting System Overload
Sorting machines and dedicated workers are trained to handle specific materials. When wishcycled items, like foil pouches or plastic film, enter their waste stream it slows down the system. This wastes precious time and, as with contamination, can end up with perfectly recyclable materials going to landfill.
Top Wishcycled Materials
Navigating the recycling landscape can be tricky, especially when items appear deceptively recyclable. To avoid unintentional wishcycling, let’s shed light on some of the most common offenders:
- Foil Pouches: While their papery exterior might lead you astray, foil pouches and similar packaging often need specialised processing and can’t be mixed with regular recyclables.
- Clingfilm: This poses a significant risk of tangling sorting machinery and disrupting the entire process.
- Thin Plastic Bags and Wrappers: Flimsy and prone to tearing, these materials contaminate other recyclables and can get caught in sorting equipment.
- Food-Contaminated Containers: Leftover food residue not only attracts pests but also contaminates other recyclables. Thoroughly rinse or wipe containers before placing them in the recycling bin.
- Disposable Paper Products: Tissues, paper towels, and napkins quickly disintegrate into confetti-like fragments, jamming sorting machines and rendering entire batches unrecyclable.
- Glassware: Despite their seemingly recyclable nature, most glassware requires separate processing. Check with your local council for specific guidelines.
- Plastic Toys and Electronics: These often contain a variety of materials and require specialised recycling methods.
NRC Business Waste: Your Partner in Recycling
We’re all about making recycling easy and effective for businesses like yours. Need help navigating the waste-sorting maze? Give us a call! We’ll be your trusted allies, providing expert advice, efficient waste removal, and a commitment to sustainability.
