04/19/2026
What Truly Gets Recycled and How to Not Mess Up the Process
When it comes to recycling things, I’m hyperactive. But geez - I just discovered I’ve been doing more harm than good. I had thought we should recycle every possible thing including coffee cups (lined with plastic), plastic takeout containers, plastic forks and straws, wrappers, chip bags, frozen food bags. But all of the above can slow down or mess up the recycling process. We know greasy containers don’t go into the recycle bin. But did you know that one greasy container can “contaminate” the whole truckload? An entire truckload of recyclables can be rejected and sent to the landfill if it has a greasy container....
When it comes to recycling things, I’m hyperactive. But geez – I just discovered I’ve been doing more harm than good. I had thought we should recycle every possible thing including coffee cup…