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LIFESTYLE

11 THINGS YOU REALLY

SHOULD STOP RECYCLING

Climate change is a hot a grocery store or boutique are
topic and it’s evident from made from paper, they also contain
melting ice caps to burning Bisphenol A, aka BPA, the nasty
cancer causing chemical. When you
continents that the Earth recycle receipts, the BPA that they
is in need of rescuing. It’s contain gets processed with other
imperative we recycle and paper pulp and contaminates the
make changes to our eco- recycled paper products that are
habits, but we need to look being produced. It’s best to ask for
no receipt when you’re shopping, or
at what we shouldn’t be re- throw it away and wash your hands.
cycling, too.
6. Food Residue: Cleaning out food
and beverage containers before you
recycle them is just as important as
1. Plastic Bags: You’d be surprised how placing them in the right bin. Food
many people add soft plastic bags to residue and liquids left in take away
their recycling bin, or even bag their containers, peanut butter jars and
recyclables in plastic before adding even wine bottles can contaminate
them to their cart. The problem with an entire truckload of recyclables.
soft plastic bags is that they can clog Containers don’t have to be perfectly
machines and slow down operations clean, but they should be rinsed and
while workers remove the bags by washed with soap if they’re greasy.
hand. Bring your own reusable tote
with you when you’re out shopping 7. Broken Crockery: We’re all prone to recycle. The plastic lid might be
to eliminate the need for a plastic to breaking things. Unfortunately, recyclable, but it will depend on
bag. You can also recycle soft plastic broken plates, ceramics, porcelain,
at many grocery stores. mirrors, light bulbs, cups, wine what type of plastic is accepted by
glasses and Pyrex have different your local municipality. The paper
2. Pizza Boxes: If it’s got food stains melting points and chemical heat sleeve that goes around the cup
or grease on it, it doesn’t belong in compositions compared to to protect your hand is really the only
recycling. Lucky for us pizza lovers, recyclable glass and belong in the part of a takeaway coffee cup that is
cardboard boxes can be composted trash. likely recyclable or compostable.
as can other food-soiled paper, so Better yet, say no to disposable cups
long as they’re not lined with plastic. 8. Nappies: Yuck, and no! Hopefully, and bring your own reusable coffee
A good example is take-out boxes— it’s no surprise that dirty diapers cup with you when you’re on the go.
check the bottom of the box to see if and sanitary products have no place 11. Paperboard Boxes: Freezer food
it is labelled as compostable. in the recycling bin. Whether they
boxes and ice cream cartons contain
are clean or dirty, they go in the
3. Gift Wrap: Shiny, metallic wrapping a plastic polymer to prevent freezer
paper and decorative ribbons do not trash. There are some compostable burn. Unfortunately, this plastic
belong in recycling. Glittery cards nappies, but most municipalities coating prevents the box or carton
are also non-recyclable and can do not accept them in municipal from breaking down in the recycling
contaminate an entire bin of paper. compost bins. process. Gable-topped milk and
When wrapping a gift, opt for an 9. Shredded Paper: This one surprised juice cartons are also made from a
unlaminated paper like newspaper, me. Shredded documents and paper/plastic hybrid to prevent leaks
paper bags or butcher paper. and shelf stable cartons (sold in a
small bits of paper are too small rectangular box) contain additional
4. Small metal bits: While bits of to be valuable to recyclers and fall plastic and aluminium layers, making
metal like cold drink can tabs and through the cracks or can even them even more difficult to recycle.
aluminium sweet wrappers are clog equipment. The good news is While some municipalities accept
technically recyclable, their small shredded paper can be composted! cartons for recycling, many do not,
size makes them hard to detect and If composting isn’t an option, you so it is best to check.
they often jam recycling machinery. can collect shreds in a paper bag,
To avoid this issue, keep soda tabs staple it closed and place it into
attached to the can or drop them recycling. Hopefully, this list of recycling offenders
inside the can when you’re done. has provided some clarity about what does
10. Coffee Cups: Most takeaway coffee and does not belong in your recycling bin.
5. Receipts: While the thermal cash cups are lined with a plastic film that
register receipts you receive from makes them liquid proof, and difficult

INTRA MUROS FEBRUARY 2020 23