Recycling Myths: What Really Happens to Your Trash After It’s Picked Up

Recycling has long been a central part of the modern environmental movement, as individuals and communities work together to reduce waste and promote sustainability. But for all these good intentions, there are many misconceptions and mysteries around what exactly does happen to our recyclables once they are picked up.

Explaining the path that our rubbish follows in the USA including in Nevada, from curb to recycling center,can demystify these processes and promote a return to more responsible practice when dealing with our waste.

The Collection Process in Nevada

From there, your recyclables are collected by municipal or private waste management services once placed at curbside. This is where the journey starts.

There is a common myth that everything put into the recycling bin goes directly to recycling facilities. But the facts are more complicated. Recyclables is usually commingled with another garbage during collection, and contamination — non-recyclable material that may inconvenient the recycling process fellas from the courtyard for assignment to be a bit of a see you later.

Recycling is a problem because of contamination. Other items that are either non-recyclable or not cleaned well can contaminate whole collections, leading to loads being rejected. Take grease pizza boxes or plastic containers that haven’t been rinsed out, for example. Those can cause big problems at recycling facilities. In fact, some municipalities take a ‘recycle it all and let the facilities sort it out’ approach while others have placed strict protocols on what is or is not recyclable to underline further the role proper sorting at the source plays.

Sorting and Processing Waste

When picked up, recyclables are taken to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). Now the sorting part starts here. Despite what you may imagine, this is not a totally automated process, technology does most of the work, but human workers are needed to ensure materials get separated properly.

Recyclables are then sorted into categories (paper, plastics, metals and glass) at material recovery facilities (MRFs) using conveyor belts, shredders and magnets. Then, they process each material type separately. Unfortunately, the sorting is not perfect. This results in unrecyclable and incorrectly sorted materials to be added to landfill waste.

The Recycling Process in NV

Different post process strategies are available to be used for all types of material after sorting. Usually, it is pulped and cleansed to be used in the manufacture of higher quality papers. These plants pulverize and melt most used-up plastic into little pellets, which would then be melted down once again into new items. They are melted down to create new metal products, crushed and made into new glass containers

But it’s a common misconception that every scrap you put out on the curb is turned into new products. Of course, the recycling process itself is complicated, and not all materials can in fact be recycled over and over forever. As a case in point, plastics might degrade in quality after being recycled a few times; this disqualifies them for re-use. At the same time, demand for some materials in the market can fluctuate, meaning that they might not be recycled.

The Role of Market Demand

Recycling industry highly depends on market demand. Recycling can benefit the human race most fully if recycling facilities are able to produce new items out of reclaimed materials when demand is high. If demand falls, as when new materials become cheaper to produce than recycled ones, recyclables can end up stockpiled or even dumped in landfill.

It is especially pronounced with some plastics. The lack of processing facilities and markets for some types has made recycling increasingly difficult for many municipalities. For example, economic recycling of lower quality plastics has now become unviable, boosting the amount going to the landfill.

The Significance of Shopper Schooling

But those recycling realities underscore the need for consumer education. Knowing what is and is not recyclable where you live is important for consumers. Guidelines and resources for cities to support their residents in informed choices. This education can result in higher recycling participation rates, less contamination and a greater volume of materials recycled successfully.

In addition, raising awareness of the production-to-disposal lifecycle of products can challenge consumers to be more sustainable and show them ways how. Individuals can cut waste by choosing products with minimal packaging, buying from businesses that engage in environmentally friendly practices and by simply being mindful about what they buy.

This process is fraught with complexity, challenges and in many cases a lack of understanding to what actually happens after recyclables are picked up from the curb. If we dispel the recycling myths that are out there, it can help each individual to take responsibility when it comes to their waste and decisions. Recycling is established on appropriate sorting, awareness of market forces and community participation.

As societal challenges persist world-wide including in Reno, NV, a greater knowledge of how recycling operates can help us to both reduce our waste and build a sustainable culture. Only when we all understand what really happens to our trash throughout its lifecycle can recognize has our own stake in shaping a more responsible, sustainable world.

Written by scienceguy