Let’s Start the New Year on the Right Foot by Recycling

There are only a few weeks left of 2024, and that means the new year is right around the corner. You might be starting to think about your New Year’s resolutions and how you can start 2025 off on the right foot. Most people set health goals for themselves such as diet and exercise, or even professional goals to help them climb the corporate ladder. But what about setting a goal to help protect the environment? Practicing sustainability by implementing recycling into your daily routine is a great way to give back to the environment, and start the new year on a clean slate. 

Recycling is necessary to help protect the environment. Studies show that there is nearly 268 million tons of waste produced each year in the United States. In 2022, research shows that more than 125 million tons of plastic was produced. In order to account for these high numbers, society as a whole can be more proactive to help reduce waste. Recycling is an easy way for people at home to take control of how they are disposing of their waste. The more things are recycled, the healthier the earth will be. 

However, just because recycling exists does not mean that everything can be recycled. It’s important to know which materials can be recycled and which ones have to be thrown away. Sometimes throwing random trash into the recycling bin can cause more harm than good, especially for material sorting companies. 

“We have to protect the environment and that means ensuring that the recycling process is operating as efficiently as possible. ‘Wishcycling’ happens when people place an item into the recycling bin without knowing whether it can actually be recycled or not. This creates more work for sorting manufacturers, can sometimes contaminate actual recyclable materials, and can cause equipment damage resulting in plant downtime,” says JD Ambati, Founder & CEO of EverestLabs. 

The recycling process begins at home. The more people recycle, the more manufacturing companies can do their job efficiently, for the betterment of the environment. If you want to start 2025 off by practicing more sustainable habits, here is a closer look at the five things that cannot be recycled. 

1. Batteries 

Just because it seems like it can be recycled does not mean it is. A significant challenge for recycling facilities is the risk of fires caused by batteries discarded in curbside recycling bins. Not only do these fires endanger the lives of waste and recycling workers, but they can lead to prolonged shutdowns or the complete destruction of facilities. If a facility gets shut down, that means recycling is not being done, ultimately harming the environment. 

To help prevent these battery-related fires, visit your local government or waste service provider’s website to learn about the recommended disposal methods, because each community handles battery collection differently.

2. Tangling Items

As the holiday season draws near, you might be tempted to put your old holiday lights in the recycling bin, but maybe think again. Things like hoses, extension cords, and holiday lights cannot be put in the recycling bin, and instead should be put in the trash.

The reason for this is because these loose items can also harm recycling machinery. Because they are so long, they can get wrapped around other items and disrupt production. This can also lead to a facility shut down. 

3. Sharp Objects and Medical Waste

Think about how your waste could impact someone else. Sharp objects like needles, knives, hangers, and antennas are a huge safety hazard to people working at recycling manufacturing plants. 

Medical waste, which can also contaminate other recyclable materials, is also unsafe for workers who are handling your recycling. The best thing to do is to find the nearest medical disposal box near you. This will not only keep you safe, but others as well. 

4. Ceramics 

You might have an outdated set of plates or glassware that you are dying to get rid of. Unfortunately, all of those old kitchen plates and dishware are not recyclable. Ceramics and glass should not be put into your recycling bins. 

However, you can still be sustainable with these items. Take them to your local Goodwill or thrift store to give them to someone else who might need them. There are multiple ways to reuse and recycle old items. 

5. Electronic Waste 

Last but not least, your old electronics can be a hazard when it comes to recycling. Electronic waste (e-waste) needs special handling for disposal because it contains various toxic and hazardous chemicals that can be harmful if not managed correctly. 

In fact, due to the toxic nature of e-waste, you shouldn’t place it in your garbage or recycling bin. Instead, find an organization in your area that will recover your unwanted electronics. 

2025 is just a few weeks away, and now is the time to think about how you can make changes to live a happy and healthy life. By protecting the environment, you are also taking care of yourself. Recycling and practicing more sustainable habits will help eliminate the vast amounts of waste the U.S. produces each year. Will you add recycling to your New Year’s resolutions list?