Recycling 101
Photo By David McElwee
Throughout the San Diego area, there is a consistent pattern in recycling habits: many residents recycle, but many do not recycle correctly. According to San Diego County, "20% of what some residents and businesses put in their recycling bins is not recyclable."
Walking around neighborhoods in San Diego, recycling bins are commonplace on trash day. We have been told by the media how recycling "saves the earth", so many people believe they are making a difference just by putting their trash in a different color bin. The truth is, though, that recycling can only "save the earth" when done in a specific way. In this sense, despite these residents' good intentions, they are not always making a positive change.
My goal with this post is not to shame you for not recycling correctly, but rather to educate you on how to. This way, you can dispose of waste appropriately that you gather in your own home, as well as in your Pick It Up bags.
First, be sure your recyclables are empty and dry— no food or liquid residue should be left, even if this means rinsing and drying off the items. Remaining liquids can contaminate other recycables in the bin and make them unusable.
Second, do not bag your reycables— keep them loose in the bin. This is partly because plastic bags are not recycable.
Third, make sure you can decipher if something is recycable or not. Below is a list of recycable and unrecyclabe items according to San Diego County.
Flatten boxes
DO NOT flatten cartons and keep caps on
Empty and dry
NO facial tissue, paper towels, or napkins
NO shredded paper unless it is placed in a large, clear bag and tied closed
Plastic bottles and containers (empty)
Keep lids on
Containers, cups, clamshells (to-go containers)
Tubs (yogurt, butter) and buckets
NO plastic bags, plastic film/wrap, foam food and drink containers, foam packing peanuts, straws, utensils or compostable plastic
Any color
Keep lids on
Empty and dry
NO drinking glasses, Pyrex® or window glass
Aluminum cans and bottles (empty)
Clean foil
Metal containers (i.e. soup, coffee, tuna cans)
Empty aerosol cans
NO scrap metal (return to scrap metal recycler. Visit WasteFreeSD.org for locations)
DO NOT place these items in the recycle bin:
Plastic bags.
Items less than the size of a credit card (straws, loose caps, plastic utensils, etc.).
Batteries, lightbulbs or electronics.
Clothes/textiles and hangers.
Tanglers (hoses, chains, cords or rope).
Sharps/needles.
Pet Waste.
Hopefully this post motivates you to not only recycle correctly, but also to educate others on the topic!