by Holly Denson-Camp
Welcome back to People, Planet, Print: Busting Recycling Myths. Today, we focus on the impacts of our sorting habits and establishing trust in our recycling infrastructure. Don’t forget to read Part 1: Recycled vs. Virgin Fiber Paper.
MYTH: “What I put in the recycling bin doesn’t actually get recycled”
FALSE
This is a sentiment that is growing ever-popular as studies and anecdotes reveal some of the hidden sides of the recycling market, such as what happens when a material is no longer considered valuable to purchasers. You might have read the circulating statistic that “only 7% of the material we put in the recycling bin actually gets recycled,” which has led to a growing trend of individuals putting less effort into their recycling practices, due to a lack of faith in the system. However, there are a few points to raise that should help to restore hope:
- These statistics are most often in reference to plastic recycling
- Due to our increasing use and disposal of plastic packaging and products, more studies have been done to evaluate the effectiveness of plastic recycling. Plastic recycling is extremely challenging due to the complexity of materials used and the variety of plastic compounds. These studies shed light on the fact that we need more viable recycling options for plastic, or we need to drastically reduce our plastic consumption.
- Paper recycling, on the other hand, is a highly effective category of recycling. Over the past few decades in North America, paper has consistently been recycled at the rate of 50-60%. As of 2024, 96% of Canadians have access to paper and cardboard recycling which is a huge contributing factor to increasing recycling rates. This goes to show that the paper recycling industry is unique in its effectiveness, and the industry’s efforts have been successful.
- Just because some kinds of recycling have been proven less successful, doesn’t mean we should stop recycling.
- Some of the main issues with effective recycling are fluctuating costs and changing demand. Recyclers only want to purchase material that is cost-effective to recycle (is well sorted and made up of single materials) and is lucrative to sell (there is demand for the recycled product). When these factors don’t align, we are left with pallets of recyclable material that no one wants to purchase. Ideally, these pallets are held onto until the market shifts and there is more demand or new technology, rather than being dumped. With that being said, it is always more effective to sort and recycle your materials that could eventually be recycled, rather than commit them to a landfill forever.
Consider these points next time you are standing at a recycling bin, skeptical of its effectiveness. By knowing the recyclability rate of the materials you consume, you can best improve your recycling habits and purchasing decisions.
