Hard to Recycle Items: What They Are and How to Handle Them

Introduction

Not everything with the recycling symbol can go in your bin. The recycling symbol, while seen as universal, can be misleading and lead to contamination of recycling streams. Understanding recycling limitations is crucial to minimize contamination, which can harm recycling streams and create sorting challenges.

So what items should we avoid putting in our recycling bins at home and the office, and what are other options for disposal?

Common hard-to-recycle items

Common, difficult-to-recycle items cover a wide range of usage. Understanding which items are not recyclable helps prevent contamination and provides alternatives to municipal recycling programs. These items include:

• Electronics and e-waste
• Mixed material products
• Contaminated containers
• Specific plastic types
• Construction materials
• Plastics #3-7

These items, while technically recyclable, are difficult to process at municipal facilities. There may be existing programs that are designed uniquely to handle these products, but they can not simply be thrown in your typical recycling bin.

Why are plastics difficult to recycle?

Plastics are especially difficult to recycle because of their composition of varied materials and a lack of consistency with recycling programs. Plastics #1 and #2 are generally considered easily recyclable materials. However, plastics #3-#7 pose challenges for recycling streams.

• #3 Plastics: PVC, Polyvinyl chloride, used for cleaning products or sheeting
• #4 Plastics: LDPE, Low-density polyethene, used for plastic films
• #5 Plastics: PP, Polypropylene, used for straws and hangers
• #6 Plastics: PS, Polystyrene, used for take-away, and hard packaging
• #7 Plastics: Other or PC, Polycarbonates, used for baby bottles, nylons, CDs, etc.

Each plastic is unique in its material composition and its usage, making them difficult to classify as uniform, recyclable products. When plastics are recycled, they are melted down, and if they are not carefully separated, a small amount of plastic from a different category can degrade the entire batch of melted plastic. To effectively recycle and produce quality raw materials from recyclables, sorting properly is essential.

Many municipalities do not have advanced enough sorting technology to separate diligently, making plastics #3-#7 difficult to recycle. While processing is advancing, the current systems have limitations that must be considered while recycling.

Demands in the plastic market are often fluctuating and create challenges for recycled plastic. Companies commit to recycled materials, but often revert to less expensive imported virgin materials due to cost savings and ease. The shifts in demand are harmful to plastic recycling facilities as they are not economically viable without an existing demand.

“Not everything with the recycling symbol can go in your bin.”

Things that can't be recycled

Today, many plastic items are viewed as recyclable, but this isn’t necessarily true. Some items need special facilities and programs to be successfully recycled. As a general rule of thumb, these items are not recyclable in your municipal recycling facility:

• Plastic bags and film
• Food-contaminated items
• Broken glass and ceramics
• Hazardous materials
• Composite materials

Special focus: Problem materials

Some materials are just difficult to recycle. What are they, and how do you proceed?

• Particleboard is made of wood chips and synthetic resin. The resin can be harmful during the recycling process as it releases chemicals, making it difficult to recycle. However, using recycled particleboard for the production of new particleboard has proven to be successful.
• Plastic bags are difficult to recycle due to their composition, which is characterized by a thin and fragile nature. When they are processed in regular recycling streams, they often clog machines and stall entire recycling processes. While plastic bags can’t go in the municipal recycling stream, unique plastic bag recycling programs exist at national retailers such as Walmart and Kroger.
• Medical waste is highly problematic in its disposal due to the safety of facility workers and the risk of contamination; therefore, there are extensive regulations for its disposal. Options such as incineration, on-site treatment, and mail-in disposal are preferable.
• Chemical containers are similarly regulated. All chemical containers should be collected by Chemical Waste Services (CWS).

Recyclable items (with proper handling)

Some hard-to-recycle items can be recycled with special programs and handling facilities, such as:

• Electronics through special programs: E-waste programs can be found in most states. Terracycle offers E-waste collection boxes that can be picked up and sent to associated recycling facilities.
• Batteries at designated locations: Call2Recycle is a battery recycling program that offers drop-off or mail-in options for various battery types. They have partnered with various hardware stores and waste centres to be certified drop-off locations.
• Textiles through specific initiatives: Retold Recycling offers textile collection by mail, sending textiles to be upcycled, downcycled, to thrift stores, and more.
• Large appliances with proper preparation: Best Buy offers appliance recycling, offering the collection of three items per family per day.
• Snack bags: Terracycle has a unique snack bag recycling program. Its zero-waste boxes can be picked up for recycling.

Finding programs to recycle unique materials is essential in diverting materials, while also offering strong potential for reuse through the recycling process. Furthermore, materials like electronics and batteries are harmful and have specific regulatory requirements for each state; finding appropriate programs is important in the disposal of these products.

Solutions for businesses

As a business, it is important to understand what types of recyclable waste you are producing, and, if it is a specialized material, how it is being diverted. For example, many companies utilize and dispose of electronics, so implementing a specialized collection stream for electronics could increase diversion.

For example, pairing Recycle Away E-waste bins with a local collection center for hard-to-recycle items is one solution for businesses looking to divert waste from landfills. Staples offers a toner, ink, and other technology collection for free. Alternatively, companies such as Terracycle offer specialized collection bins that can fit your office needs, from E-waste to aerosols and beyond. Having the right bins is the first step in diverting waste and extracting value from the waste produced.

Educating employees on recyclable materials that are accepted in your general streams and any specialized program is especially important in finding success in recycling at the business level.

Waste has value; capitalize on it.

Problems with recycling at scale

Recycling at scale poses risks for contamination, human error, and various challenges within facilities. However, within a household or workplace, there are steps to reduce risks even when recycling at scale.

1. Contamination prevention strategies Preventing contamination begins with you. Educating yourself and those around you about how to separate recyclables is essential in maintaining clean streams. Within office spaces, clear labeling and signage encourage positive separation practices. For best practice, if you don’t know, don’t throw. Check signage, or consult local municipalities for up-to-date information about recycling guidelines.
2. Training requirements Recycling at scale comes with increased training requirements for facility workers. Training requirements cover safety, hazardous waste management, the general recycling process, equipment training, and specialized training for unique programs. Comprehensive training allows for greater success with recycling at scale, improving sorting efficiency and techniques.
3. Infrastructure investments Investing in recycling infrastructure is essential in upscaling technologies, training, and general operations. More advanced recycling facilities can recycle with greater efficiency and expand programs to include more recyclable materials. Investing in infrastructure will ultimately help your recycling program and goals.
4. Regulatory compliance At scale, regulatory compliance is essential for businesses. Following state regulations for recycling reduces the risk of penalties and commits to a more sustainable business model and future.

Conclusion

While there is the universal recycling symbol, paying specific attention to what you recycle and where is essential in maintaining clean and efficient recycling facilities. Specialized collection systems can help you manage hard-to-recycle items.

Having clearly labeled bins with multi-stream solutions is a great step in implementing recycling in your office space. Explore bins that will take your recycling to the next level today at Recycle Away.