Most people say they care about the planet. But you look into their trash bin and see plastic bottles, greasy pizza boxes along with many Amazon boxes in the same bag. People think about recycling, so that is good.
The truth is that recycling works if people do it often – it does not need to be hard. The are ten habits that even a lazy person can do, and they add up.
Rinse your items.
If a yogurt cup contains goo, it has no use. Recyclers do not change things. A 10-second rinse keeps it in the system. If you wash a coffee mug, you can rinse a can.
Do not put recyclables in plastic bags.
Some people put recyclables into plastic trash bags and then put them in the bin. The whole bag goes to the landfill because no one at the plant has time to rip it open.
Learn what your city takes.
Each city acts differently. Some accept glass, others do not. Some want caps on bottles, some off. Believing “everything is recyclable” is just hoping. Spend five minutes on your local waste site – you will save much from being trashed.
Electronics are not just trash.
Old phones, cables in addition to broken laptops do not belong in the kitchen bin. Most cities have e-waste days. If not, big stores often take them back. Those metals are worth something. Do not bury them.
Compost counts.
Food waste makes up about 25 – 30 % of household trash. If you have a backyard, start a compost pile. If not, see if your city or local farms accept compost. It is not “gross.” What is gross is pretending your half eaten burrito belongs in the recycling bin.
Reuse bags until they break.
You do not need many fancy totes. Use the same few bags until they fall apart. Recycle them if your store offers drop offs. They are just another problem.
Use bulk over single use items.
One large bottle of shampoo is better than ten small ones. This is true for soda, juice next to cereal. Less packaging means less recycling.
Donate before you throw away.
The lamp you dislike, someone else loves – this is true for clothes, books, furniture. Most thrift shops and community centers will take them. Recycling is not just cans and bottles – it is keeping items in use longer.
Keep a “maybe box.”
If you are not sure if something is recyclable, keep a box in the garage. Once a month, check what the city accepts. Worst case, you throw it away later. Best case, you find out it has value.
Do not think recycling alone will save us.
Recycling matters. But do not praise yourself because you put a water bottle in the right bin and then ordered next day delivery from across the globe. Pair recycling with less consumption. That is the real victory.
Why bother?
Small habits grow. The Oregon crew I wrote about last time had a school lunch program that lived off small coins from rinsed cans. In Lagos, plastic pays tuition. Small things pile up.
So next time you think, “It is just one can,” imagine saying that with a thousand of your closest neighbors. That forms a landfill. If you rinse it, that is medicine, food, or tuition somewhere else.
Recycling is not pretty – it is not for show. It is habits. Ordinary little habits. If you stick to them, yes, it helps.