Recycling resolutions for a new year

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, January 11, 2023

By Karissa Miller

WM

A new year is here! As you plan your New Year’s resolutions, consider putting recycling right at the top of the list. A new year is the ideal time to reassess recycling habits and make a plan to green up your routine. Here are WM’s top recycling resolutions to live your best, most sustainable life in 2023.

Set up your home recycling system for success. Recycling right begins with a convenient home system to collect bottles, cans, and paper. Keep a recycling bin next to the kitchen garbage so it’s easy for family and guests alike to sort waste. Don’t forget other areas that could use a recycling bin: a home office is another important place to have a blue bin for old scrap paper.

In addition to being conveniently located, recycling containers should be clearly labeled. Post signage on or above both recycling and garbage bins to clearly label each. Signage should include clear photos of what is accepted in the different bins. Download and print your local recycling guide from the WM website, wmnorthwest.com. You might even print off an extra copy to keep on the fridge for daily reference.

Go bagless. Recyclables in plastic bags cannot be sorted at the recycling center and must be pulled off the sort line and hauled to the landfill. Don’t let those good recyclables go to waste! If you collect recyclables in a plastic bag, be sure to empty materials directly into your curbside cart and then reuse, recycle at a local grocery store that accepts bags, or throw away the bag. Never put plastic bags in your curbside recycling cart!

Keep “tanglers” out of the recycling cart. While you’re at it, take a look in your bin to see if you can identify other “tanglers.” Like plastic bags, tanglers wrap around sorting equipment at the recycling center, making the local recycling system less efficient. Items such as holiday lights, wires, and garden hoses are all tanglers that should be kept out of the recycling bin. As a rule of thumb, only place items shown on the recycling guide in your curbside cart. To find drop-off recycling programs for items such as holiday lights, visit 1800recycle.wa.gov.

Recycle all clean paper and cardboard. Get back to the basics of recycling in 2023 by making a resolution to always recycle your clean paper and cardboard. Nearly all paper is recyclable, and yet it continues to end up in the landfill. Take a look in your garbage to see if you can spot any paper that should be put in the recycling. Tape on cardboard boxes, staples, and plastic screens on envelopes do not need to be removed!

Recycle plastics by shape. Forget about the number on the plastic container to determine if it’s recyclable. Instead, focus on shapes! Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs are acceptable in your cart and will be made into new products. Any other plastic not listed on your local recycling guide should be kept out of your curbside cart.

When in doubt, find out. When you aren’t sure if something is recyclable, don’t just toss it in the bin, look it up at the WM website — wmnorthwest.com. If you still aren’t sure, it’s better to put it in the garbage to avoid contaminating other recyclables.

Here’s to a sustainable 2023!

Karissa Miller is WM’s recycling education and outreach manager. Learn more about waste reduction at wmnorthwest.com.