What a Waste!

Recycling: The Last Resort

Earlier this week, on Monday the 30^th of March, we observed the International Day of Zero Waste and are thus continuing our Zero Waste Week. We’ve talked about reducing — the most powerful tool we have. We’ve talked about reusing — giving things a second life. Today, we arrive at the third and final pillar. The one most people think of first. The one we’ve been told is the answer to all our rubbish problems. I’m talking about recycling.

Now, before we go any further, I need to say something that might surprise you. Recycling is not the hero we’ve been led to believe it is. Don’t get me wrong — recycling is important. It’s far better than sending waste to landfill or incineration. But in the waste hierarchy, recycling sits at the bottom. It comes after reducing and reusing for a simple reason: recycling still uses energy, water, and resources. It’s an industrial process. And here’s the hard truth — globally, less than ten percent of all plastic ever produced has actually been recycled.

So why are we talking about it? Because recycling, when done correctly, is a vital part of the solution. But it only works if we understand how it works. And that’s what we’re going to unpack today.

Let’s start with the basics. Recycling is the process of collecting, sorting, and processing materials to turn them into new products. It sounds simple, but the reality is complex. Not everything you put in your recycling bin actually gets recycled. And here’s the golden rule: when in doubt, leave it out. Putting the wrong item in your recycling bin can contaminate an entire batch, sending everything to landfill.

So, what materials can actually be recycled? Let’s go through them one by one.

Paper and cardboard are among the most successfully recycled materials. Newspapers, office paper, cardboard boxes, cereal boxes — these are generally good to go. But there are exceptions. Greasy pizza boxes? They contaminate the paper fibres. Waxed cardboard? Not recyclable. Shredded paper? It falls through sorting machines and usually ends up in landfill.

Glass is a recycling success story. Glass bottles and jars can be recycled endlessly without losing quality. But here’s the catch — different colours of glass are often separated because mixing them affects the quality of the new product. And please, no broken drinking glasses or Pyrex. Those have different melting points and ruin the batch.

Metals — aluminium and steel — are also highly recyclable. That soda can you recycled could be back on the shelf as a new can in as little as sixty days. Recycling aluminium uses ninety-five percent less energy than making it from raw materials. That’s enormous.

Now, plastic. This is where it gets complicated. Not all plastics are created equal. Look at the bottom of any plastic container and you’ll see a number inside a triangle. That’s the resin identification code. Numbers one and two — think water bottles and milk jugs — are widely recycled. Number five — yogurt containers — is recyclable in some areas but not all. Numbers three, four, six, and seven? Those are rarely recycled. And flexible plastics like bags, cling film, and pouches? They jam sorting machines and should never go in your home recycling bin. Many grocery stores have separate collection points for plastic bags.

Now, let’s talk about sorting. This is where you play a crucial role. Rinse your containers. Remove lids. Flatten cardboard. Keep things loose — don’t bag your recyclables in a plastic bag because that bag will be removed and sent to landfill. Sorting correctly at home means the recycling facility can do its job efficiently. When recyclables are contaminated with food waste or the wrong materials, entire loads can be rejected.

So what do recycled materials become? That’s the beautiful part. Your paper becomes new cardboard or office paper. Your glass jars become new bottles or even fiberglass insulation. Your aluminium cans become new cans, bicycle parts, or even airplane components. Your plastic bottles become fleece jackets, carpet fibres, or new bottles. These materials have value. They just need to be captured correctly.

Here’s the deeper message for today. Recycling is essential, but it’s not a license to consume without thought. The most recyclable item in the world is still waste if we don’t reduce and reuse first. So as we continue our Zero Waste Week, remember the hierarchy. Reduce first. Reuse second. Recycle last. Because the best waste is the waste we never create at all.