Not too long ago, we were talking with an old friend, and she said, “I can’t believe I’ve been sorting my garbage and recycling for all these years, just to find out it’s all going to the landfill!” Out of curiosity, we asked, “Where did you hear this?” And she said, “Everyone knows this, obviously.”… we knew at that exact moment, what this month’s blog was going to be. We’re debunking recycling myths! Now don’t worry, we won’t judge you if you believed one of these. If you believed more than one of these, we’re in some trouble… kidding! Let’s dive in!
The Art of Separation
First, let’s start with, “All household garbage and recycling go to the same place.” This is far from the truth! When your garbage and recycling get picked up, it goes either to a landfill or a recycling center and is sorted by hand. Now, some items you had in your recycling bin may end up in the trash, but that’s not because they’re trying to sabotage your old cardboard boxes! Although those items are labeled as recycling, they can contain grease, stains, spills, etc..,that prevent them from being properly reused and/or recycled, deeming them as garbage. It’s still very important that you separate your garbage and recycling, because even if you have one item that may be brought to the landfill, you could have 40 other items that get to be properly recycled and potentially reused!
The Battery Basics
Our next myth is, “My lithium batteries aren’t leaking or expanding, so they’re fine in the trash.” This one took our breath away… Even if your batteries aren’t leaking battery acid or swelling, it doesn’t mean they’re safe in your garbage. According to Lexipol Media Group, the FDNY reported 277 landfill fires in 2024. All of which were triggered by lithium-ion batteries. Not only is this a concern for the landfill itself, but all the workers are at risk as well. If you don’t know where you can bring lithium-ion batteries, give us a call! We don’t limit how many you bring (Even if they’ve been building up in your junk drawer since the day you moved in), and we can dispose of them properly and safely. Fees will apply.
The Mysterious Recycling Symbol
Our final myth for the day is, “If it doesn’t have a recycling symbol on it, then it’s trash.” Hold on there, pal! That isn’t always necessarily true. Here’s a list of a few things that may not have a recycling symbol, but can still go into your recycling bin: Aluminum cans, paper bags, cardboard boxes, office paper, milk/juice cartons, etc. There are so many things we use daily that may not look recyclable but are!
If you’re ever questioning whether you can put something in your recycling bin or not, just give us a call at 952-894-1448! We’d love to help sort your recyclables over the phone… no fees attached! Well, that’s all for today, but don’t worry… we’ll be back! See you next time!
