7 Things You're Recycling That Are Actually Making Things Worse
Recycling practices often lead to unintended contamination due to common misconceptions about what can be recycled. Many people unknowingly dispose of items that are not recyclable, which complicates the sorting process at recycling facilities. Understanding local recycling guidelines and properly cleaning containers can significantly improve recycling efforts.
- ▪Many food-service packaging items, such as Styrofoam containers and black plastic, are not recyclable.
- ▪Recycling symbols on containers can be misleading, as not all items labeled recyclable are accepted in every area.
- ▪Residual food waste can render containers unrecyclable, making it important to clean them before disposal.
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| Original publisher | CNET |
| Canonical URL | https://www.cnet.com/how-to/7-things-youre-recycling-that-are-actually-making-things-worse/ |
| Publication time | Mon, 25 May 2026 16:00:42 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-25T16:12:38.243Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-25T16:12:38.243Z |
| Headline source | Publisher (no WeSearch rewrite) |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Recycling is one of those habits most people feel reasonably confident about, until they start looking closely at what actually goes in the bin. The blue bin has become a catch-all for anything that feels like it might be recyclable -- a generous and well-intentioned impulse that can create serious headaches for the facilities trying to sort and process it. Seven items in particular show up as consistent contamination offenders, and the frustrating part is that most people tossing them in have no idea the damage they're doing.Jeremy Walters is a sustainability ambassador for Republic Services, one of the nation's largest recycling companies. He's seen the effects of wish-cycling firsthand.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at CNET.
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