The recycle step of “reduce, reuse, recycle” is not always as easy as it seems. With categories and policies varying based on city and disposal company, it is not always easy to know what can be recycled where. Luckily, NPR has created an easy to use guide to help the average consumer navigate household recycling.
For example, small and single-use plastic packaging can get lost in the world of recycling. Often times, these plastics are coated in many layers of dyes, food, and chemicals, preventing them from being fully recyclable. Ravaging through and recovering recyclable materials is no easy task, but we can do our best to play our part in successful recycling.
However, as this Treehugger source article also points out, recycling is a business, and even when done properly, not every recyclable item becomes a new product. However, every little action helps, so check out the guide for ease of mind when tossing out plastic, paper, and glass.