Recycling could help ensure that tons of wastes do not get dumped anyhow. Waste takes a lot of time to get degraded. This requires a lot of manpower not to mention that dumping sites cause a lot of environmental pollution. If most of the waste was sorted and recycled, not only would there be more jobs for people but the environment would be cleaner. Recycling at home and at your place of work should be a part of keeping the environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, the most common recycling mistakes are not far from your imagination. Some of them are pretty basic.

Here are 6 of the most common recycling mistakes.

1. Assuming that only white paper can be recycled

This is one of the most common recycling misconceptions. Any type colored paper can be recycled. In fact, all types of paper can be recycled. Most times you will find that any paper you can tear can be recycled so do not feel confused. The only type of paper that will not pass as a candidate for recycling is coated paper.

2. Not sorting out the trash

Most people who throw trash just put it all together and assume that the trash collection company will do the sorting themselves. The truth is they already have to do other types of sorting so they do not have time to properly go through everything. Introducing different trash bags for different materials would go a long way to help get everything sorted out and all ready for recycling. If you do not sort it before collection, best believe that it will be dumped together with all the other trash. To salvage this from becoming one of the most common recycling mistakes, always place the correct container or paper in the correct collection bag.

3. Bad labeling

To follow up on sorting the garbage, one of the most popular recycling mistakes is inappropriate labeling. This makes it difficult for recycling companies to correctly put the piles into their respective order. Ensure that even after sorting out the trash into different types, you get the labels done correctly to avoid confusion.

4. Not cleaning plastic containers/glass

Contamination is a common mistake that should be avoided at all costs when it comes to recycling. It is important to clean out any type of plastic bag or container before you toss it inside the recycle bin. The next time you want to toss something in the recycle bin, be sure to clean all bottles and containers to ensure your recycling action is as effective as can be.

5. Failing to repurpose before recycling

This may be one of the most looked over points when it comes to recycling. Most people seem to forget that repurposing items is also a part of recycling. You can repurpose glass bottles and plastic containers so many other ways for example by turning them into flower vases and flower pots. There are a lot of DIY tutorials on how to repurpose containers that would have otherwise gone into the recycle bin or the trash.

6. Recycling plastic paper bags

Plastic paper bags are not recyclable. This is why gradually; parts of the world are phasing out the use of plastic paper bags and encouraging people to use other means to carry goods. Most times plastic paper bags end up clogging sewage ways or on dumpsites because most recycling companies do not recycle plastic paper bags. This is because they are highly contaminated and cleaning them would be a lot of work.

The thought of recycling things obviously comes from a good place but common recycling mistakes make it noneffective. Recycling is a great waste diversion strategy; however more people need to be educated on how best to recycle waste. Even so, people are making a substantial effort towards recycling more rather than trashing everything together. Littering has also decreased as people are becoming more environmentally conscious and embracing the much-needed culture of conserving our environment. You can make recycling the right way a culture in your home and workplace today and bring about even more positive environmental change.