Recycling Myths

Recycling Mythbusters: Do I have to remove tape from my cardboard boxes? Should I put my glass through the dishwasher before recycling? Do I need to remove paper labels from my cans? We bust these recycling myths and more to help break down barriers - real or imagined - between residents and recycling.

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Text:  You do not need to soak paper off of cans and bottles before recycling.  Photo:  A pile of glass wine bottles.

WE ARE GOING TO MAKE YOUR RECYCLING LIFE EASIER:  

You do NOT need to remove paper labels from cans or glass jars and bottles prior to recycling!  

Unless your recycler or transfer station specifically tells you otherwise, you can leave those paper labels be! We are all for making recycling easier for everyone, so if removing labels is a hassle for you, check it off of your list of things to worry about. Just make sure you empty thatRead more

Text: Size matters when it comes to recycling.  Use the 2 inch by 2 inch rule.  Photo:  Pieces of crumpled tin foil.

SIZE MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO RECYCLING 

Whether you use your thumb or a Lego guy as your measuring stick, just make sure that anything you put in your recycling bin is AT LEAST 2 inches tall AND wide.

Why does size matter?

Well, at source-separated facilities that bale each individual commodity - such as cardboard or aluminum - it can be nearly impossible to compress a bunch of small items into a heavy cube (can you imagine trying toRead more

Text:  Wish-cycling is just trash with good thoughts.  Photo:  A water bottle and Styrofoam washed up on a beach.

WISH-CYCLING IS JUST TRASH WITH GOOD THOUGHTS! 

We've said it time and again - just because something has this symbol "♻️" - known as chasing arrows - on it, DOES NOT mean the item is recyclable! When you throw something in the recycling bin it DOES NOT MAGICALLY BECOME RECYCLABLE! Instead, you have thrown trash into a recycling bin - contaminating actual recyclable materials. This is called "wish-cycling" and it's w for recyclingRead more

Text:  Recyclables should always be tossed loose, never in a sealed bag.  Photo:  A girl holding plastic bottles.

WHEN IT COMES TO RECYCLING, KEEP IT LOOSE!

That's right, though your recycling habit may be in the bag, your recyclables should NOT be!

For single-stream or curbside recycling, unless your recycling company tells you otherwise, ALL material should be put into your recycling bin loose.

Source-separated recycling should get sorted individually at the transfer station or recycling center. DO NOT toss bags ofRead more

Text: Your transfer station workers want to help you.  JUST ASK!  Photo:  A man in a hard hat with looking at the camera.

YOUR AMAZING TRANSFER STATION OPERATORS HAVE THE ANSWERS - JUST ASK!

Did you know that all solid waste facility operators (also sometimes known as transfer station operators) in New Hampshire must be certified through the NH Department of Environmental Services? This means that beyond initial training, operators also complete annual continuing professional development.

Operators understand the recycling market - they know what's moving quickly and what's notRead more

Text:  Recycling is a manufacturing process.  Photo:  Machinery.

♻️ DID YOU KNOW: RECYCLING IS A MANUFACTURING PROCESS ♻️

Sometimes recycling can feel like magic - making new items out of old ones. In reality, recycling is a manufacturing process - machinery is used to create new items on a large scale.

As NRRA Board Member and recycling expert, Roger Guzowski, wrote:

"Recycling is not good because landfilling is bad. Recycling is good because recycling is good. In a manufacturing process without recycling, a naturalRead more

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