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11 THINGS YOU

REALLY SHOULD

STOP RECYCLING

Climate change is a hot topic and it’s evident from recyclable, their small size makes
them hard to detect and they often
melting ice caps to burning continents that the Earth jam recycling machinery. To avoid this
issue, keep the soda tab attached to
is in need of rescuing. It’s imperative that we recycle the can or drop it inside the can when
you’re done.
and make changes to our eco-habits, but we need to
5. Receipts: Although the thermal cash
look at what we shouldn’t be recycling, too. register receipts you receive from a
grocery store or boutique are made from
paper, they also contain Bisphenol A,
1. Plastic Bags: You’d be surprised how can other food-soiled papers, so long aka BPA, the nasty cancer-causing
many people add soft plastic bags to as they’re not lined with plastic. A good chemical. When you recycle receipts,
their recycling bin, or even bag their example is take-out boxes - check the the BPA that they contain gets
recyclables in plastic before disposing bottom of the boxes to see if they are processed with other paper pulp and
of them. The problem with soft plastic labelled as compostable. contaminates the recycled paper
bags is that they can clog machines and products that are being produced. If you
slow down operations while workers 3. Gift Wrap: Shiny, metallic wrapping don’t need the receipt for bookkeeping
remove the bags by hand. It’s best to paper and decorative ribbons do not purposes, it’s best to tell the cashier “no
bring your own reusable bags with you belong in recycling. Glittery cards receipt” when you’re shopping, or throw
when you’re out shopping to eliminate are also non-recyclable and can it in the litter bin and wash your hands.
the need for a plastic bag. You can also contaminate an entire bin of paper.
recycle soft plastic at many grocery When wrapping a gift, opt for an 6. Food Residue: Cleaning out food and
stores. unlaminated paper, like brown paper, or beverage containers before you recycle
use a simple gift bag and tissue paper. them is just as important as placing
2. Pizza Boxes: If it’s got food stains them in the right bin. Food residue and
or grease on it, it doesn’t belong in 4. Small metal bits: While bits of metal liquids left in condiment containers,
recycling. Lucky for us pizza lovers, like cold drink can tabs and aluminium peanut butter jars and even wine bottles
cardboard boxes can be composted as sweet wrappers are technically can contaminate an entire truckload of
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