Engine blocks. Metal chains. Old burgers. And lots and lots of diapers. These are some of the weirdest things that end up at recycling centers across the country all the time. While most of us think we have a handle on recycling, we still end up dumping stuff in those blue bins that should go in the garbage.
Some of this is undoubtedly by accident; it’s unlikely anyone truly meant to recycle their child’s soiled diaper or their half-eaten burger. But other trash that ends up in the recycling stream — like metal chains, engine blocks, or pizza-soaked cardboard — shows we’re not quite as good at recycling as we think.
Throwing the wrong thing into the recycling bin can be a big issue, and it happens all the time. Many people throw things in the recycling bin that they aren’t sure are recyclable, but think should be. The practice is fittingly called “wish-cycling.” And wish-cycled products, like flimsy plastics, belts or pizza oil-soaked cardboard can contaminate an entire bag or truckload of recycled goods, dooming all the otherwise-recyclable items for the landfill.
“We believe customers are well-intentioned,” says Pete Keller, vice president of recycling and sustainability at Republic Services, a solid waste and recycling services company with operations in 41 states and Puerto Rico. “They think they’re doing more by putting more materials in the recycling bin, but … they’re causing more harm than good.”
