Quite a lot of what people think they are recycling actually ends up in the same waste stream as garbage. That’s right, it’s destined for a landfill. Sure, you put everything out at your curb in a bin with a recycling symbol on the side, But...what happens next?
A truck with a recycling symbol on its side reliably picks up what you put out for it.
But where it goes from there can get pretty iffy here in the foothills of Colorado (or just about anywhere in the U.S.).
Even many waste companies will tell you that once they hand it over to their downstream partners, it often gets re-channeled into a standard waste stream. It’s not bait-and-switch on their part. It’s just that most recycling workflows require processes that rely on purity. Only certain plastics. Only certain papers. Only certain metals. Cross-contamination within a single batch of recyclables often dooms the entire load. And that happens far too often.
Wish-cycling is also the practice of recycling items that cannot be recycled. It is most common with plastics because of the complexity of plastic recycling, but can also happen with other products like heat-proof glass or aluminum foil. People wish-cycle because they believe that the items are, or in some cases, should be recycled. It's usually people that are extremely well-intentioned but don't have a complete education around the complexities of recycling.
So while you may feel like you’re doing good by the planet, you’re actually just “wish-cycling.” It feels good to you, but it’s still often bad for mother nature. (source: Method Recycling)
At Foothills Recycling, our entire reason for being is to give individuals and small businesses who wish to recycle here in the Evergreen area the opportunity, the resources and the friendly assistance to get it done right. What you recycle with us is steered into a certified recycling process that we monitor and that we have vetted. Recycling is all we do, so we are committed to doing it right.
Top 10 Wishcycling Mistakes
Good intentions don't always equal good recycling! Here are 10 common wishcycling mistakes to avoid when recycling with Foothills Recycling:
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Leaving lids and caps on bottles and containers
Remove lids and caps before recycling bottles, jars, and plastic containers. -
Recycling dirty food containers
Recyclables don't need to be spotless, but they should be empty, rinsed, and free of food residue. A quick rinse or scrape with a spatula can make a big difference. -
Assuming every plastic is recyclable
A recycling symbol doesn't automatically mean we can recycle it. Foothills Recycling accepts #1 and #2 plastics in our regular plastic stream. -
Putting paper and cardboard in with containers
Our system is source separated. Keeping paper and cardboard separate from bottles, cans, and plastics helps keep these materials clean and recyclable. -
Putting glass in with your other recyclables
Glass should always be kept separate. Broken glass can contaminate other materials and create a safety hazard. -
Throwing plastic bags and film in loose
We recycle stretchy plastic film, but it needs to be collected separately rather than mixed loose with your other recyclables. -
Assuming all Styrofoam belongs in the trash
This one's a reverse wishcycling mistake! Foothills Recycling accepts certain Styrofoam, so don't automatically throw it away. Follow our preparation guidelines before bringing it to us or placing it out for an eligible collection. -
Putting waxed or food-soiled cardboard in recycling
Clean, dry cardboard is recyclable. Cardboard heavily contaminated with food, grease, or wax does not belong with your clean cardboard. -
Putting “close enough” items in the bin
Garden hoses, cords, toys, ceramics, mixed-material products and other random items don't become recyclable just because they're placed in a recycling container. -
Guessing instead of asking
This is the biggest one! Recycling guidelines can be confusing—and they change. If you aren't sure whether Foothills Recycling accepts something, ask us before you toss it.
When in Doubt, Find Out!
Wishcycling doesn't create more recycling—it creates more contamination. By taking a few extra seconds to sort correctly, you're helping Foothills Recycling produce cleaner recycling streams, protect the value of recyclable materials, and keep more resources out of the landfill.
Don't wishcycle. Recycle right.