REVAMPING YOUR RECYCLING ROUTINE: "Giving... items a second life keeps them from piling up in landfills, polluting the oceans, and negatively impacting future generations."(EYE ON ECOLOGY)

• Author: Szaky, Tom

THE NUMBER of environmental concerns that we face today can seem overwhelming. Alongside climate change and pollution, household and industrial waste is a significant and growing problem. Recycling is an important part of the solution, but far too often it is not implemented correctly. In fact, according to a study from the University of Georgia and University of California, 91% of plastic goes unrecycled, either because of lack of will or because people with good intentions recycle the wrong items or recycle them incorrectly.

In an increasingly confusing recycling system, wish-cycling--or placing something in the recycling bin with the hopes that it will be recycled--often is a well-intentioned habit. However, the practice does more harm than good, creating a less than ideal situation for local recyclers who will have to halt or slow operations to separate out wish-cycled items manually.

For those who want to make effective recycling a priority, it is important to know what is and what is not recyclable in your household or workplace. The first and best place to start is by contacting your local municipality, which should be able to provide a list of community recycling do's and don'ts to help residents navigate all the rules and nuances that at times can be confusing.

Paper is a great example. While most municipalities accept paper mail, newspapers, and magazines, shredded paper cannot be recycled unless it first is enclosed in a clear plastic bag. Cardboard boxes are municipally recyclable, but pizza boxes soiled with food or grease are not.

Small objects can create big problems in the recycling facilities. Plastic cutlery, lipstick tubes, and any other item smaller than a credit card are not municipally recyclable. These objects are too small to be sorted and will jam the recycling machinery when mixed in with other waste streams.

Colored plastics also should stay out of the recycling bin. White or clear plastic is much easier to recycle because it can be turned into any color, while colored plastic cannot. Colored plastic, like tinted cosmetic cases or red food containers, generally are nonrecyclable through local recycling programs and likely will end up in the trash if placed in your recycling bin.

Plastic shopping bags technically are recyclable at special drop-off locations, but they never should be recycled curbside. They are the No. 1 contaminant at local recycling facilities, acting as "tanglers" that get caught in machinery and...