5 Things People Wishcycle and Sustainable Alternatives
Wishcycling, aka “wishful recycling,” is when you toss an item in the recycling bin with the hope that it will be recycled, without knowing whether or not the item actually can be.
Read on for five common items people wishcycle and their more sustainable alternatives.
But first, why is wishcycling a problem?
While it’s well-meaning, wishcycling often causes more harm than good, sending more items to the landfill and putting extra strain on recycling centers.1 One way recycling centers are impacted? Recycling contamination — an issue that occurs when non-recyclable items mix with recyclables, rendering them unusable.
4 major effects of recycling contamination
1. If an item is covered in food residue, it’ll contaminate all the items around it and render them all unrecyclable
2. Workers are forced to spend extra time sorting through bins to remove contaminants
3. Non-recyclable items can damage recycling machines that are costly to fix
4. Recyclables that have been badly contaminated have to be sent back to the landfill.
It’s estimated that 25% of recyclables end up in the landfill, due to these types of avoidable issues.
Wishcycling alternatives: 5 swaps for non-recyclable items
1. Coffee cups
Your to-go cup of coffee isn’t as recyclable as you think. Coffee cups are often coated in grade 4 plastic, a type of low-density plastic that isn’t recyclable. Food matter — like your morning latte — can also coat the inside of the cup and, if not thoroughly washed out beforehand, can contaminate the entire recycling bin.
Instead, try a reusable mug or travel cup. They don’t just keep your drinks hot (or cold) for longer, they’re also super easy to take with you to coffee shops or fill up at home. Some cafes even offer a discount if you bring your own cup.
2. Plastic shopping bags
Most recycling centers reject plastic shopping bags because the thin material is difficult to efficiently break down and recycle, and much of the material gets wasted. And while there are some drop-off programs that accept plastic bags, there just isn’t enough infrastructure to handle the amount of plastic bags being produced.
The answer: Reusable shopping bags. Opt for reusable bags made from 100% organic cotton instead of nylon or other materials made from plastic. Keep the reusable bags in both your pantry and car so you always have them handy in a pinch. And if you forget your reusable bag, don’t worry (it happens to all of us). Opt for paper bags over plastic, since paper is both compostable and easier to recycle, if clean and dry.
3. Plastic utensils and straws
Around 380 billion tons of plastic are produced every year, and single-use products like utensils and straws account for about half that number.2 Ditching these single-use plastic items is a simple, affordable way to reduce your plastic consumption.
Bamboo is a sustainable material that makes a great alternative to plastic plates and utensils. You can also find bamboo straws, in addition to metal, glass, and silicone options that will last you for years to come.
4. Paper towels
Yes, paper towels are convenient. But the truth is, paper towels contribute to the deforestation crisis rocking the globe. The U.S. cuts down approximately 68 million trees per year to create paper products3 — an alarming number, especially when you consider that paper towels aren’t even recyclable because they have too short of fibers and are often contaminated.
Luckily, there are tons of alternatives, from Swedish dishcloths you can toss in the wash to bamboo paper towels you can toss in the compost.
5. Plastic wrap
Plastic wrap is another one of those items we know are convenient, yet wasteful. And, up until recently, there weren’t many realistic alternatives available.
Thankfully reusable food wrap has entered the scene. We suggest beeswax wraps to cover tupperware and produce — they’re naturally-derived, reusable, and biodegradable. You can also use cloth covers, durable reusable bags, or wrap made from silicone.
What types of paper can be recycled?
When it comes to recycling, paper can seem especially confusing — we hear you. The simple way to know which items to toss in the recycling bin? Check if the paper is matte or glossy.
Newsprint, cardboard, and office paper are all matte, recyclable paper items (notice how when held to the light, they don’t shine). Magazines and many mail flyers, on the other hand, are often made with shiny, glossy paper that’s coated in plastic. A quick trick - give it the tear test: If the pages tear easily, you should be able to recycle it. If not, toss it in the trash. And remember, paper items with inorganic residue — pizza boxes, coffee cups, tissues, paper towels, and used craft paper — can’t be recycled.
How can you reduce waste overall?
Switching to reusable or compostable alternatives is a simple yet effective way to reduce waste and improve the recycling process. Always think about the end of a product's life before you buy it, so you can make small changes that lead to a big impact. Lastly, say no to wishcycling, and be 100% certain before you toss something into the recycling bin to help reduce contamination in the recycling system.
Sources:
1 University of Colorado Boulder Environmental Center. (2023, December 15). Recycling contamination. University of Colorado Boulder. Retrieved November 15, 2024, from https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/2023/12/15/recycling-contamination
2 Earth Day Network. (n.d.). Fact sheet: Single-use plastics. Earth Day. Retrieved November 15, 2024, from https://earthday.org/fact-sheet-single-use-plastics/
3 Green America. (2017). Paper facts. Retrieved November 15, 2024, from https://www.greenamerica.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/Paper%20Facts%202017.pdf
