ARE YOU A
WISH-CYCLER?
Aspirational recycling is more harmful than you think Writing and art by Kat Tsvirkunova Picture this. You order a pizza, and, once you’ve finished eating, you toss the greasy pizza box into the recycling bin. You’re not sure if it’s recyclable, but you’re throwing less into the garbage, so you must be helping the environment, right? Wrong. This is called “wish-cycling,” or the act of tossing something into the recycling with the mere hope that it is recyclable and little evidence to confirm that it is true. Wish-cycling, or aspirational recycling, has two significant consequences: it generates more waste and harms the recycling industry. If you recycle something without first determining if it is recyclable, you risk contaminating everything else in your recycling bin. This renders your recycling unusable, and it will almost certainly get rejected at a recycling facility. As a result, all of your recyclables will go to a landfill anyway. According to Sage Hill Bottle Depot, approximately 80% of contaminated recyclable waste is buried in landfills
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due to improper classification and processing. When you recycle something that isn’t recyclable, you are potentially damaging equipment and adding to the hassle for those who work at your local recycling facility and are trying to avoid these damages. These facilities were first opened in the 1970s when the United States began its recycling industry in response to public concern about waste. Governments, businesses, and environmentalists used pro-recycling messaging to facilitate recycling behavior. This was particularly the case for plastics with resin identification codes inside a triangle of “chasing arrows,” indicating that the item was recyclable – even though this was frequently false. Only resins #1 (polyethylene terephthalate, or PET) and #2 (highdensity polyethylene, or HDPE) easily recycle and have viable markets. Others are difficult to recycle, so many recycling organizations do not collect them. In 1988, the plastics industry created codes to classify various types of plastic resins used to manufacture products. Surrounding them with ‘chasing arrows’ incorrectly implied that they were all recyclable when many communities only processed the more common types. In 2013, the picture was modified to a solid triangle. Despite these modifications, wishcycling is still prevalent today. 59% of people believe that most items can be recycled, implying that more than half of the population regularly wish-cycles. It’s essential to be mindful of what you’re throwing away and encourage others to do the same. There are a few things you can do to make sure you are not wish-cycling and that you are helping our planet become greener.
First off, work on reducing your waste! Consider investing in reusable products and stray away from single-use plastics. You should also be making sure items are clean and dry before throwing them into the recycling. Research your local recycling rules and regulations to learn what you can and cannot recycle in your community. Every area has its own set of rules and exceptions, so make sure you read them all. Remember: when in doubt, throw it out. In other words, only recycle things that you are 100% sure can be recycled.
34 HIGHLANDER OPINION
