Recycle Like You Mean It: Breaking Down Waste Sorting

When you hear about environmental sustainability, do you truly understand what it means? More than going out into the world, sustainability is all about how you show up in your everyday life. On campus, there are thousands of small decisions we make daily, such as where we dispose of our waste, that have a greater impact than you think. 

Nowadays, we see recycling bins everywhere, often paired with trash cans, encouraging people to think before discarding waste. But in those moments of rushing out of the dining hall or through campus, it is easy to default to convenience rather than correctness. When recycling is done improperly, it can contaminate entire batches of materials at the recycling center, making it harder to reduce the overall impact of other sustainability efforts. 

Contamination is the most common challenge in recycling, with popular waste company WM (formerly Waste Management Inc.) noting that food and liquids are the top contaminants in the recycling process. This mishap leads to items being sent to landfills. Knowing the difference between what can be recycled, composted, or thrown away allows you to move through communal and shared spaces with intention and more awareness.  

While many items may have recycling symbols, indicating they belong in the recycling bin, it is still important to know which items truly belong in which waste bin.  Clean plastics such as bottles, jars, jugs, and cups are recyclable; however, they must be empty and free of foam or food residue. Not all plastic can be recycled, and snack wrappers, low-value plastic resins, cups, plastic cutlery and straws, and dessert trays should be disposed of in the trash. 

Empty and clear tin, aluminum, and steel cans are all recyclable. WM notes that if a metal can has a plastic lid, the lid needs to be placed in the trash. Paper and paper cups, flattened cardboard and paperboard, and glass bottles, based on local guidelines, are all items that belong in recycling bins. Understanding the basics of recycling helps you distinguish what goes on in other waste bins. 

Within campus dining spaces, these choices become even more important as high-traffic areas to ensure that we are practicing a level of shared responsibility. Together, the impact can drive exponential change, contributing to a system that benefits the community. 

When we properly sort waste, we actively reduce pollution and decrease the amount of waste in landfills. Increased waste in landfills releases methane, accelerating climate change and the destruction of natural habitats. Every action has a chain reaction, and by thinking before we throw things away, we can be the first link in a positive outcome. 

At its core, being sustainable is about consistency, actively choosing to be aware even in the smallest moments. Our actions add up, and the more knowledge we obtain about how to help the environment, the more we can make the effort to do better each time.