10+ Common Recycling Myths and Mistakes

 

So much misinformation out there about recycling! I'm an environmental science teacher, and even I discovered, after doing some more in-depth research, that I was harboring some misapprehensions. 

Why are we so ineffective at communicating recycling do's and don'ts? Feel like part of the reason is that we often don't explain the WHY behind these imperatives. People are much more likely to follow rules when they understand the reason for them, or the consequences likely to ensue if the rules aren't followed. 

To that end, the following list contains not just recycling recommendations, but explains the reasoning behind each recommendation. Unlike other posts on this site, I encourage folks to borrow and repost this info at will, because when everyone recycles responsibly, we all win!  

1. MYTH: Filmy plastics (shopping bags, newspaper bags, ziploc bags) can be recycled like other plastics. REALITY: False! These thin plastics get tangled in the sorting machines or accidentally end up in bales of separated paper.  If just 0.5% of a bale is contaminated with other materials, it can't be sold to reuse companies. There *are* processes for recycling filmy plastics, but specialty companies handle these types of materials - which is why you'll find some grocery stores collecting these types of plastics separately.
2. MYTH: Envelopes/boxes with film windows aren't recyclable. REALITY: False! I know I just said that filmy plastics shouldn't be placed in recycling, but the small pieces of film employed in envelopes and pasta boxes generally aren't big enough to cause issues with the machinery. If you can remove the windows, do - but don't let this stop you from recycling paper products that are almost all paper.
3. MYTH: You don't need to remove food remains/stains from recyclables. REALITY: False! The recycling process isn't designed to remove organic compounds. Food/oil stains can degrade materials, introduce bacteria, create sticky surfaces that interfere with sorting, and attract bugs/pests. While a few small stains may not be a deal-breaker, plastic or glass products should be well rinsed before they are recycled, and paper products that are stained with food shouldn't be recycled at all, but composted. 
4. MYTH: Rinsing out recyclables wastes so much water, it's not worth it. REALITY: False! Most people who ask this question are only considering the water required to remove food stains from their recyclables, overlooking the enormous amounts of water (and other resources) required to transform virgin materials into packaging.  Even factoring in rinsing, the process of recycling consumes much less water than manufacturing from scratch. 
5. MYTH: Recycling uses more energy/resources than it saves. REALITY: False! The Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed that recycling always has its environmental benefits, whether we’re talking about saving water, energy, resources, or money.
6. MYTH: A recycling symbol on a plastic product means that the product *is* recyclable. REALITY: False! There are over 9 different resins that can be transformed into plastic: polyethylene, polyvinyl, polypropylene, polystyrene .... Some of these resins are recyclable, some aren't. The number inside the recycling symbol is the important thing, as this identifies the specific resin used. Check with your local recycling provider to confirm which types of plastic resin they can/can't process, as this can vary among providers. One of the reasons our country struggles to keep up with plastic recycling is that so much of the incoming plastic debris is contaminated with non-recycleables that require time and money to remove  - enough time and money to make plastics recycling so unprofitable, potential providers get scared away.
7. MYTH: Coated food boxes are recyclable. (They're made of paper, right?) REALITY: Depends! Those "waxy" coatings - used to strengthen the packages or render them moisture-resistant - are made of plastic and, as discussed above, not all plastic resins are recyclable. The good news: food containers are usually coated with polyethylene, a plastic that is recyclable. The bad news: that doesn't mean that all suppliers have the facilities to handle polyethylene-coated paper. For one thing, the plastic coating has to be stripped off the paperboard it is affixed to, which some recycling facilities aren't equipped to do. You'll need to check with your local recycling supplier to see if coated food containers are allowed. 
8. MYTH: Water bottles are recyclable, but not the caps. MYTH: False! While it's true that bottles and bottlecaps are often manufactured from different resins, water companies generally ensure that both are made of plastics that are recyclable. (In fact, the resin used to create the bottle caps is even more desirable for recycling than the resin used to create the bottles.) However, please don't remove the tops before you toss them in the bin, and don't flatten the bottles themselves. 3D bottles are easier for mechanical sorting machines to recognize and successfully sort. 
9. MYTH: Store receipts are recyclable. (They're made of paper, right?) REALITY: False! The vast majority of store receipts are made of thermal paper (thermal paper feels like thin film rather than notebook paper), which contains chemicals called BPA and BPS, both of which have been linked to health issues in humans. (They throw human endocrine system/hormones out of whack.) Moreover, these chemicals easily transfer from the paper to anything that the paper touches. The best way to ensure BPAs don't transfer to recycled products - especially recycled products used to store food? Throw ALL your store receipts in the trash, not the recycling bin! 
10. MYTH: All glass is recyclable. REALITY: It's complicated. Pretty much all glass can be recycled, but different types of glass have different melting points. That's why most residential recycling company accept ONLY container glass. You absolutely should recycle windows, mirrors, etc., but you'll probably have to drop those items off at a municipal recycling center. Depending on your local provider, you may also be required to sort your glass by color. Why? This allows recyclers to more efficiently control the color of recycled glass products they produce. 
11. MYTH: Broken glass is recyclable. REALITY: It's complicated. Glass is, of course, recyclable, but broken glass poses so many dangers, most recycling companies refuse to accept it. Broken glass can slash the people who sort the recyclables and damage the machines that process them. Moreover, broken glass can be harder melt and reforge into new products. Some recycling companies will accept shards as long as they are large enough (ex: over 3"), but be sure to check with your local provider rather than make assumptions. And definitely DO NOT wrap your broken glass in newspaper or a cardboard box, hoping that the recycling company "won't notice"! 
12. MYTH: Materials can only be recycled once. REALITY: It's complicated. Some materials (plastics in particular) do lose quality over time, and often plastics are "downcycled" into items like clothes or lumber, substances that can't be further recycled. But other materials - glass, aluminum, paper - can be recycled multiple times. In other words, *do* continue to toss those goods labelled "made of recycled materials" in the recycling bin
13. MYTH: Some companies will recycle textiles (clothes, sheets, blankets, fabrics, etc.). REALITY: It's complicated. In general, it's not worth the effort to recycle textiles. Why? Textiles, like plastics, are fashioned from a variety of materials, some of which are recyclable (wood, cotton), some not (spandex, rhinestones). The effort of identifying the textiles used, separating the items by textile, and removing/sorting trim is so labor-intensive, few companies are interested in taking this on.  However, textiles are imminently reusable: just drop them off at a local thrift store! Every item you donate may prevent the need to manufacture a comparable item from scratch. 

40+ Earth Day Activities for Middle Schoolers

Earth Day (April 22) is a great opportunity to introduce kids to the idea of environmental stewardship.  And there are, in fact, a number of environmental stewardship projects that lend themselves to school-wide initiatives. I haven't bothered to add a lot of detail to this list of project ideas, because I'm sensitive to the fact that every school will have unique social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors that will impact how projects can realistically be implemented. Never fear: you'll find any missing information out there on the web, waiting to be useful. 

So, why even bother to compile yet another list of Earth Day projects?  Because while good ideas are out there, too many of the lists I kept finding during my teaching career were what you might call "stewardship-adjacent." While they might teach kids about nature or science, or involve generating non-specific "Save the World" messages, they're not designed to actually help the Earth (or teach the kids how to help the Earth) in any authentic way.  To the extent possible, I've tried to keep this list focused on realistic, actionable initiatives.  

Hope there's something here that you'll find helpful! 

Planting Things. (Keep in mind that gardens don't have to be dug into the ground; rooftops, raised beds, and containers can all facilitate planting projects.) 

1. Challenge students to identify keystone plant species in their community and use the information to plan and participate in planting projects (ex: re-introducing native species into areas that have experienced a loss of biodiversity)
2. Have students plant native fruits, vegetables, and/or spices to reduce the quantity of goods that must be trucked across long distances. (Bonus: implement a plan for growing the foodstuffs organically)
3. Have students make and deploy seed bombs (utilizing seeds from native species, of course)
4. Have students raise native plant seedlings and give them away. 

Helping Animals.

1. Arrange for students to build and install bird or bat houses
2. Arrange for students to build bee or bug hotels (ex: dead wood habitats)
3. Have students plant a pollinator garden to support the health of local pollinators (bees, moths/butterflies, hummingbirds, bats, etc.) 
4. Challenge students to create mini-ecosystems to restore/promote biodiversity (ex: dead wood habitat, water garden habitat) in their community 
5. Have students create wildlife feeding stations (birdseed, peanuts, salt)
6. Arrange for students to raise and release native ladybugs or butterflies
7. Arrange for students to raise and distribute worms for people who would like to use them for composting
8. Challenge students to select a specific endangered species, conduct research to become familiar with the factors that are threatening them, and then brainstorm actions that they can take to help address those threats 

Helping the Earth

1. Help students organizes and participate in a watershed or roadway cleanup
2. Have students protect and/or repair an area that is experiencing erosion. (Most campuses have areas of grass loss due to high traffic - the perfect place to start)
3. Arrange for students to label local storm drains with "anti-dumping" reminders
4. Help students educate themselves about invasive species and then provide an opportunity for them to remove them
5. Have students research local community environmental issues (ex: erosion, water/air/soil/noise/light pollution, overuse of fertilizers, destruction of habitats, flood plain destruction, sustainable development) and then write letters to their local legislators advocating for realistic solutions
6. Arrange for students to participate in a citizen science initiative, gathering data that will inform environmental stewardship initiatives
7. With storms expected to increase in severity, challenge students to identify potential local flooding issues and brainstorm solutions 
8. Encourage students to identify an environmental cause that they feel passionate about and organize a fundraiser to support their chosen activity.   

Educating Themselves & Others

1. Challenge students to create an activity that will educate members of their community (school or beyond) about an environmental issues and what needs to be done to address the issue
2. Have students research local community environmental issues and brainstorm actions that could address the issues presented (or, better yet, identify actions that they can personally take to address problem)
3. Arrange for students to research a specific environmental issue (ideally something an issue that is nuanced, with multiple stakeholders, such as infrastructure development) and then organize a class-wide or school-wide debate 
4. Encourage students to calculate their family's carbon footprint and, based on the results, brainstorm ways to reduce their family's greenhouse gas emissions.
5. Encourage students to calculate their family's water footprint and, based on the results, brainstorm ways to reduce their family's water usage. 
6. Organize a school-wide book club focusing on books with environmental themes. Challenge students to brainstorm actions that could address the issues presented. 
7. Host a school-wide watch party of an environmental documentary then, afterwards, challenge students to brainstorm actions that could address the issues presented. 
8. Arrange to have a speaker talk to your class or school about an environmental issue that requires addressing, then challenge your students to brainstorm actions that need to be taken to address the issues

Living a More Sustainable Life

1. Have students research stewardship ideas, choose one, and sign a pledge committing to implementing the practice in their personal lives
2. Have students create reusable bags that they can use for shopping 
3. Arrange for students to build composting bins and/or implement a compositing program at school or home
4. Arrange for students to upcycle items that would otherwise be destined for a landfill
5. Challenge students to make a plan for sustainable buying. (Ex: have kids list everything they're planning to buy in the coming month and then brainstorm sustainable sources or alternatives)
6. Challenge students to keep track of all the trash they generate in a day and then brainstorm changes they can make to generate less trash in future. 
7. Challenge students to brainstorm ways to reduce food waste at home or school
8. Arrange for students to research vegetarian recipes and/or create a collaborative vegetarian cookbook
9. Challenge students to create a plan to reduce energy use in the classroom or at home 
10. Challenge students to create a plan to reduce water usage in school or at home
11. Organize a "bike or bus to school" day with the object of limiting individual car trips
12. Have students sponsor an "e-waste collection" event and appropriately dispose of the waste they collect

60+ Environmental Stewardship Project Ideas for Students

As a life science teacher, I am perhaps even more freaked out than "normal people" about the various environmental dooms overtaking us even as I type this: climate change, sustainability, water availability, mass extinction. Never has it been more important for our youngest generation to understand the role they can and must play in acting as responsible stewards of Earth and Earth's resources. 

Towards this end, I require my students (10-14yrs old) to perform four acts of environmental stewardship per year (one per quarter). You'd think this would be met by groans and complaints, but the truth is that most students are full of passion and idealism - they *want* to save the world, they're just not sure how! Which is why I've pulled together this continually-updated list of projects that are student friendly but that directly map to challenges that are facing our Earth today. 

Please - if you have any suggestions of activities that I might add to the list, leave me a comment below. I'm hoping this blog post will prove genuinely useful to other teachers hoping to implement or grow the emphasis on environmental stewardship in their own classrooms. 

Planting & Growing

1. Build a bird or bat house
2. Create a vertical garden
3. Create a container garden
4. Create an indoor window garden
5. Plant a butterfly, bee, or bat garden
6. Plant a vegetable, flower, spice, or medicine garden
7. Build a small greenhouse so that you can continue to grow your own vegetables throughout the winter
8. Plant a tree or bush (just make sure you pick an indigenous species!) 
9. Install a rain barrel
10. Build/create a composting program
11. Start composting
12. Use tree/plant identification guides to positively identify 10+ plants in your yard or neighborhood. Then figure out which ones are native vs. non-native to Virginia
13. Collect  & remove invasive species
14. Implement new landscaping techniques that will reduce either erosion, fertilizer use, or invasive species in your lawn
15. Create seed balls (native seeds only!) and disperse them around your community
16. Raise ladybugs (indigenous species) and set them lose in the community to eat bugs
17. Raise chickens
18. Raise bees 
19. Learn to identify local birds, and participate in a sponsored bird count project.

Water Quality & Conservation

1. Create a rain garden
2. Find an area where soil is eroding and entering the local watershed and implement a solution (erect a barrier, plant grass, etc.)
3. Pick up litter so that it doesn't wash into the local watershed
4. Begin taking 3-minute showers
5. Calculate your family’s water footprint. (There are many water footprint calculators online that you can use.) 
6. Mark local storm drains with stickers that remind people not to use them as chemical dumps
7. Acquire a lead water test kit and check the water at local public areas (libraries, schools, etc.) to make sure it is safe
8. Monitor water quality in a local watershed (pond, stream, or lake)

Sustainability

1. Reduce the amount of packaging that you accumulate when shopping by
1. Buying products that are sold in recycleable containers
2. Buying products that come in reusable packinging
3. Using reusable shopping bags (including bags for produce) 
4. Refusing straws, lids and excess plastic packaging
2. Brainstorm and implement strategies for reducing the amount of trash that your family produces
3. Identify a common single-use plastic pollutant and take an action that will help reduce the production/use of that plastic
4. Upcycle something that you would ordinarily throw in the trash
5. Donate/freecycle reusable items instead of throwing them away
6. Educate your community about what items are not recycleable
7. Purchase previously owned goods vs. buying new
8. Learn how to reduce the amount of junk mail you receive at home, and share this information with the community using a website, a brochure, or a newsletter.
9. Come up with a plan to reduce food waste in your house (or at your school)

Putting the Breaks on Climate Change 

1. Conduct an energy audit of your school or classroom
2. Eat more vegetarian meals
3. Eat more locally grown produce
4. Calculate your family’s carbon footprint
5. Reduce your family’s car trips
6. Reduce your family’s electricity use
7. Figure out the cost of switching your house to solar (you don’t have to switch to solar! Just research it)
8. Compare and contrast normal cars vs. hybrid cars vs. electric cars and figure out which one would make the most sense for your family.
9. Switch something in your house to an alternative energy source that doesn’t create Co2 pollution
10. Encourage members of your community to use natural vs. man-made fertilizers. (The production of man-made fertilizers is a major source of the greenhouse gas NO2.)

General Stewardship & Activism

1. Join a local club or organization dedicated to making your community more environmentally friendly
1. Organizations that plant trees and/or protect natural areas
2. Organizations that promote green architecture & development
2. Volunteer to help support an environmental stewardship project at a local park or nature center
3. Attend an event that showcases local environmental initiatives
4. Create flyers, posters or infographics to hang in your school, educating students about an environmental issues that concerns them
   
5. Initiate a project that will make your school greener. For example:  
1. eliminate plastic bottles by installing water fountains that refill reusable water bottles
2. Create a program that increases the number of students who bike to school (rather than getting dropped off by cars)
3. Advocate to install solar energy at your school
4. Clean up trash around your school
5. Plant trees on school property
6. Sponsor an athletic shoe recycling drive
6. Write your Congressman and tell them how you want them to vote on environmental issues impacting your neighborhood, town, or state
7. Become a citizen scientist - many websites offer opportunities for students to support ongoing scientific research by participating in bird counts, monitoring local water quality, logging local species, or other age-appropriate activities. 
8. Participate in a protest 
9. Conduct a fundraiser to raise money for an environmental issue that you are passionate about

The 10 Type of People You Always Find on Volunteer Committees

At this point in my life, I've served on enough committees to be a career politician. The following list is based on my extensive (and, I will confess, sometimes amused) observations:

1. The Alphas. There's always that one person who assumes they should be in charge. This, by the way, has nothing to do with whether they're actually the most qualified/knowledgeable to assume a leadership role, but everything to do with personality - Alphas tend to be assured, confident extroverts who naturally assume that they are destined for leadership roles, regardless of qualification. If you're lucky, they're the pleasant, competent types who don't mind delegating. If you're unlucky, they're the acerbic, arrogant types who treat everyone else on the committee with condescension.
2. The Betas.  As implied, the role of the Beta is to enthusiastically endorse all suggestions put forward by the Alpha. In the case of acerbic, arrogant Alphas, this person will often adopt the role of "Alpha interpreter," smoothing over any of the Alpha's rough edges, as in: "I think what Alpha meant to say was ...." 
3. The Stealth Alphas. These are the people who actually get the work done. Stealth Alphas, often introverts or simply do-gooders, work quietly behind the scenes, unconcerned with garnering either attention or praise, who's just worried that the work gets done.  If they're very good at their job, they'll even manage to see to it that the Alpha gets all the credit for the success of the event.
4. The Soloists.  The soloists are those committee members are willing to help out, but not if they have to work with anyone else. All they want is to be given a job and then to be left the hell alone. This isn't to imply that they're always unpleasant about it. On the contrary, they'll often phrase their preference as a favor, as in: "I know you're overwhelmed, so let me take care of this for you. Don't even worry about it." Actually, they're introverts or control-freaks who don't mind helping out but who don't want to have to deal with someone else's issues.
5. The Overpromisers.  As the name implies, there's always at least one Overpromiser - those committee members who volunteer to do way more than they're ever actually going to be able to deliver. Sometimes you figure this out in time to avert disaster, sometimes you don't. 
6. The Visionaries. The idealists of the group, Overreachers tend to focus on what could be rather than what probably should be.  They see possibilities rather than realities, which can go both ways: sometimes, they elevate the process by providing vision and inspiration; other times, their stubborn determination not to compromise on lesser solutions can bring things to a skidding halt.
7. The Martha Stewarts. Unlike the Overreacher, the Martha Stewarts aren't necessarily worried about creating the best possible event - they're more concerned about crafting opportunities.  They're the perfect folks to put in charge of invitations, decorations, and/or catering.
8. The Conciliators.  God bless Conciliators, for they always mean well, and often they are able to smooth over personality conflicts and disputes.  Only one thing is certain: no one will ever thank them for their efforts. 
9. The Parliamentarians.  The opposite of Overreachers, Parliamentarians tend to be more concerned with process than outcome. They're there to ensure every motion is seconded, every word ends up in the minutes, and nothing gets decided without a quorum.  
10. The Scars.  I've borrowed the name of the resentful villain of The Lion King, because Scars are nothing if not resentful. Often it's because (like Scar) their Alpha pretensions have been thwarted; other times, their resentment may arise from feeling underappreciated or misunderstood.  No matter what decisions are made, Scars dedicate themselves to explaining why they're misguided, ill-considered, and potential disastrous. Rarely, Scars have better ideas to offer; more often, they're much more interested in finding fault and tearing things down than rebuilding them.

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A Thousand Words - Embracing Diversity in the Post-WWII Era

Check out this government nutrition poster from the post WWII era, featuring African-American and Asian children!  While I have to wonder if the artist had actually seen an African-American child (what's with that enormous upper lip? perhaps he was shooting for a young Louis Armstrong?), it bears remarking that our government was actively fostering diversity and linking it to the concept of a "Strong America." This message was also being echoed in government-sponsored radio advertising of the same era, which stressed the importance of embracing not just all races but also all religions, including Catholics and Jews. You wonder how it took 60 more years to get to where we are now.

70 Random Acts of Kindness

Hard to disagree that the world would be a better place if we all made the conscious decision to leave it a little better/happier/cleaner than we found it, every day. 

Here are some ideas for turning the ideal into action:

1. Help someone load/unload their items at the store (especially heavy and/or awkward items)
2. Return shopping carts to the corral or store
3. If the bathroom stall you're using is almost out of toilet paper, resupply it for the next person
4. Leave coupons on the shelf next to the items they discount, so the next shopper to come along can have the use of them
5. Leave that lovely parking space right in front of the store for someone else
6. Leave change in a vending machine; isn't it always a bit of a thrill to find coins in the coin return?
7. Put change in a parking meter that has expired
8. At the store, reshelve things that have been carelessly or inadvertantly misplaced
9. Take the trouble to return lost items to their owner
10. Offer to run an errand for someone
11. Let someone merge into traffic in front of you
12. Pay for the person behind you at the coffee shop/fast food line/tollbooth/bus or metro kiosk
13. If it's raining, carry a neighbor's newspaper to their front porch so it will stay dry
14. Send a thank you note for no reason to someone who deserves one - a teacher, a relative, or a community organizer
15. Bake cookies and present them as a gift to someone deserving
16. Let the guy in line behind you - the one that has only a few items - go in front of you
17. Compliment someone you usually take for granted
18. Say something nice about someone to someone else
19. Deliberately turn a negative conversation positive
20. Ask if you can help someone who seems to need help
21. Give someone the benefit of a doubt
22. Pick up litter in your neighborhood
23. Leave someplace cleaner than you found it
24. Beautify a public area
25. Offer to babysit (or pet-sit) for someone who needs a night out
26. Stop and listen to someone who needs to talk
27. Stop to help someone who's car has broken down by the side of the road
28. Help a neighbor or relative with yard work (planting in spring, mowing in summer, raking in fall, shoveling in winter)
29. Hold the door open for someone
30. Stop to help someone pick up items they've dropped
31. Pay the tab for a serviceman who is dining at the same restaurant as you
32. Send a thank you card (or package) to a serviceman overseas
33. Donate blood
34. Donate clothes, furniture, books, food, etc.
35. Offer someone a piece of gum
36. Give someone your seat on the bus/metro, even if they're not elderly or pregnant
37. Make someone laugh
38. Forgive someone for something they've done to you or someone else
39. Share something - a book, a recipe, a meal, advise
40. Cheer for someone at an event
41. Help someone learn something (or figure something out)
42. Leave a nice comment on someone's online post (Facebook, blog, review, etc.)
43. If an employee at a store has been especially helpful, tell their manager about it
44. Ask someone about their cultures/traditions
45. Pull weeds
46. Lend a pencil to someone
47. Help someone tackle a chore you know they've been dreading
48. Fix someone's favorite meal (or take them to their favorite restaurant)
49. Become an organ donor
50. Attend a neighborhood, work, or community event just to show your support
51. Throw your trash away in the theater (or at the ballpark)
52. Leave a generous tip; or, write a thank-you note to your waiter/waitress on the bill
53. Give people copies of photos you've taken of them (or their children)
54. Help someone feel better about themselves
55. Volunteer your time or resources to a worthy cause
56. Raise money for (or awareness of) a good cause
57. Help an elderly or disabled neighbor (bring their trash cans in/out, drop off their mail at the door, fetch groceries from the store for them, etc.)
58. Drop off flowers at the hospital and ask that they be delivered to someone who needs cheering up
59. Say "happy birthday" to someone who isn't expecting it
60. Brush the snow/ice off of someone else's car
61. Clean the dishes in a common area, even though you weren't the one that dirtied them
62. Let someone in a hurry cut in front of you
63. Leave your newspaper behind at the restaurant or coffee shop so that someone else can read it
64. If someone accidentally leaves their purse or laptop unattended, watch it for them until they return
65. Roll up someone's car windows if it's about to rain
66. Share your umbrella with someone
67. Help someone get (or keep) a job
68. Diffuse a tense situation
69. Compliment someone on their dog (or child)
70. If someone has thrown recycling in the trash can, move it to a recycling container