In today’s eco-conscious society, many people have become aware of environmental issues and are looking for sustainable practices that can lead to a cleaner and healthier world around us. Recycling is the process of taking waste that would be thrown away as trash and reprocessing it as industrial and manufacturing companies rely upon recycled materials to make new products.

Although recycling may seem a pretty straight forward practice, there is a large group of people out there that do not know how to recycle properly. In fact, two-thirds of millennials say they are unsure of recycling rules and believe items like plastic straws, styrofoam, to-go plastic coffee cups, or plastic bags can be sent to recycling facilities. This data shows a communication failure on the part of environmental agencies and recycling companies to get the right information out.

In order to recycle, we must do it correctly as many recycling companies can’t salvage certain items. ABH Services want to do our part in educating younger recyclers, so keep reading to learn the ways in which you may be recycling incorrectly and simple changes you can make.

 Why Millennials Should Recycle

Whatever your reason may be, it is important to get to know our local recycling rules in Massachusetts so we can help to build a better future for our family and friends. Recycling is such an integral part of this process because the current waste disposal processing in the U.S. releases harmful chemicals and greenhouse gases into the environment causing air pollution.

It also has led to many disasters like climate change, deforestation, and animal suffering. Recycling conserves natural resources, prevents pollution, saves energy, and reduces waste sent to landfills. As millennials, we produce about 4.5 pounds of waste per day that goes to landfills, so we contribute to these environmental problems when we don’t counter consumer behaviors.

What Items Should Millennials Not Recycle?

Local recycling companies have explicit restrictions on recycling, so it is important to understand the process before discarding waste. There are some basic recycling tips that all millennials should learn in order to increase recycling and reduce the amount of trash going to landfills.

• Plastics

Plastic items can be tricky when it comes to recycling as some are accepted and others are not. As a rule, refuse single-use plastics like straws, coffee cups, plastics bags, or plastic utensils as they can never be put in the recycling bin as they contain toxins that make it hard to recycle them. They simply just break down into smaller pieces of plastic.

• Food and Consumables

You cannot recycle food and food-packaging items. Food must be composted. It’s simple to do, and it reduces the waste entering our local landfills. Soiled food wrappers and plastic or paper plates are unable to be recycled, so it’s okay to place them in the garbage.

• Plastic Bags

Never put your recyclables in plastic bags. Plastic bags can jam recycling processing equipment making it expensive in the long run. They also enter oceans and cause sealife to die because of consumption. Buy reusable bags to cut down on plastic bag usage.

• Glass

Be sure to check with us as your local recycling company as rules have changed regarding the recycling of glass products. And never recycle your kitchen glassware. You can instead donate glassware to your local Goodwill. The glass in these materials can hinder glass manufacturing and can inject bad waste into your good glass recyclables.

• Paper

Paper can be recycled between four and seven times as long as it is clean paper or cardboard. It promotes conservation and cuts down on air pollution and energy usage. As a rule, do not put paper products that are coated, treated, or laminated in a recycling bin.

• Batteries

Why is it important to dispose of batteries safely? Do not place them in bins. Batteries contain chemicals that are harmful, so it isn’t safe to throw them away as they will enter landfills. Take batteries to our local recycling facility so we can securely recycle them.

• Electronics

Electronics are highly valued recyclables as they tend to have a variety of materials, including aluminum, copper, gold, iron, metal, silver, tin, and titanium. These materials are valuable resources that can be renewed and reused in new appliance production. Moreover, it’s easy money. So, if you need a new phone, stop by with your old electronics and see just how easy it is to supplement your income by recycling old items.

As a rule, when in doubt, throw it out! It is better to be certain than to assume when recycling as this can lead to costly errors at recycling facilities. ABH Services offer recycling services to anyone in the Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire area, and we are here to answer any of your questions or help you learn about recyclables. Call us today at (781) 941-2422 to find more information on what recyclables we collect and items you may drop off. Follow our blog or social media pages and send a message to www.facebook.com/abhservices/.