Have you ever found yourself engaging in “wish-cycling”? “Wish-cycling” means putting items in the recycling bin even if you’re not sure they can be recycled. While “wish-cycling” is motivated by good intentions, the act can be costly and contaminates the recycling stream. The most common examples of “wish-cycling” are plastic bags and Styrofoam. When these contaminants end up in our recycling streams, they can reduce the quality of recycled materials, damage machinery, and may result in an entire load being rejected and sent to landfill!
When in doubt, throw it out! To support a circular economy, we must keep our recyclable materials clean and free from contaminants. San Rafael’s waste hauler, Marin Sanitary Service, offers a helpful tool called “Where Does it Go, Joe?” where you can type in any item and it will let you know which bin it goes in.