Between aluminum cans, compostable spoons, and plastic bottles, recycling isn't always as simple as you think. While lots of people want to recycle, figuring out what can be recycled — and how you should do it — can be kind of daunting. If you're looking for ways to get some clarity on the recycling process, though, there are lots of different tools out there to help you.
Recycling can be hugely beneficial for the environment. As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlines on its website, recycling reduces waste by decreasing the amount of trash that gets put into landfills or burned in incinerators. However, you have to recycle the right way if you want the process to go as planned.
For example, according to Stanford University, lots of recycling gets rejected because it's contaminated. Recycling "contamination happens when non-recyclable items are mixed in with recyclables items or when recyclable items are placed in the wrong recycling bins," the university said. Stanford noted that "manufacturers reject tons of recyclable paper each year" due to contamination, such as when people try to recycle paper products that have food residue on them.
In addition to environmental benefits, recycling can also have positive implications for people, too. In fact, the EPA notes, recycling spurs a lot of economic activity. For example, a 2016 Recycling Economic Information (REI) study found that "recycling and reuse activities in the United States accounted for 757,000 jobs and $36.6 billion in wages," the EPA says. Moreover, as National Institutes of Health (NIH) notes, recycling is one of the many ways that people can help preserve the planet for future generations.
As you can see, recycling has lots of important benefits, but it's absolutely crucial to be proactive when it comes to ensuring that the right materials are processed and reused. If you're looking for some insight into the easiest ways to find out if a certain material you have is recyclable, this list suggests several resources for you to consider.