Filling that blue recycling bin every week feels like a win for the planet, but good intentions can actually clog the very systems designed to help. When you toss an item into the bin and hope for the best (a habit known as “wish-cycling”) you risk contaminating an huge batch of viable materials.
Jeremy Walters is a sustainability ambassador for Republic Services, one of the nation’s largest recycling companies. He’s seen the effects of wish-cycling firsthand. Walters walked me through the most common mistakes people make when recycling food-service packaging, bags and containers at home — and what to do instead.
Below, you’ll find his tips for recycling and a list of containers that can and cannot be recycled at most facilities.
How to properly recycle takeout containers
Styrofoam containers are a scorch on the environment. If you feel comfortable asking your local takeout spot to stop using them, you
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