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It feels impossible to go plastic free nowadays, but even if we can't solve the problem overnight, there are plenty of ways to help reduce plastic waste in your home to start making a positive impact on our environment.

What happens to all that plastic after we're done with it? We hope it gets recycled, but not all of it does. Only about 9% of all plastic produced gets recycled, which means the rest is sent to landfills or ends up as litter - all too often ending up in our oceans.

While it would be wonderful if we could snap our fingers and fix the problem, it's not that simple. What we can control and change in our own households is a first step that can get the ball rolling for a positive change in how plastic is disposed of.

Sweeping changes in your household can feel overwhelming and sometimes impossible, so it's always good to take it one step at a time. Switch one thing, then when you feel comfortable, switch another. Make your way through the list as it works for your lifestyle and budget.

Making a small change to reduce plastic waste can make a big difference over time!

Reduce your personal care plastic waste

1. Switch to shampoo bars

Plastic shampoo bottles are often overlooked as a recyclable item. In fact only 1 in 5 people recycle any bathroom items on a regular basis. That means we are creating a lot of unnecessary waste because we are more focused on recycling items in the kitchen.

Plastic shampoo bottles are almost always recyclable, but make sure they are empty and clean, not lined with shampoo residue which can cause contamination.

Instead of falling into the trap of forgetting to recycle that bottle, the better solution is to take your plastic waste out of the equation. Shampoo bars are gaining a lot of popularity, so there are a ton of great options out there. They're essentially a bar of soap for your hair and have a great lather without using as much product.

2. Go with metal razors

This is an easy fix with an old-school solution. Instead of adding to plastic waste, you can stop buying reusable and buy a metal razor that will possibly last you a lifetime. Yes, it's expensive to buy a durable, old-school metal razor initially, but think of how much you are spending on plastic disposable razors that you buy repeatedly.

3. Rethink your deodorant

Deodorant containers are a tricky item for recycling. They look like many other recyclable plastic items, but they aren't recyclable at all. Most areas won't accept them because they often contain more than one type of plastic. Plastics need to be recycled with the same type of plastic, so mixed plastic items that can't be separated on the conveyor belt, get sent to the landfill.

Make sure the actual deodorant is plastic-free as well, and make a change by buying deodorant that comes in biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable packaging. Many of these options consist of cardboard sticks, glass jars, or even just deodorant bars.

4. Choose wooden combs

This is such an easy way to reduce plastic waste since you can usually find a natural hairbrush at most locations that sell them. Combs may be a little harder to find, but they are out there at most beauty stores. In addition to doing something good for the environment, wooden combs are more beneficial for your hair's health. Plus, they reduce static while brushing!

5. Change your menstrual routine

Sanitary pads are often either made of plastic or lined with plastic. On top of that, they come in individually wrapped plastic packaging. The US alone discards about 12 billion pads per year. That's a lot of plastic! In recent years, there have been many products emerging that can help reduce plastic waste for your menstrual routine such as period underwear, reusable fabric pads, and menstrual cups.

6. Swap out your plastic toothbrush

It is estimated that about 1 billion toothbrushes are thrown away each year in the US alone. That is a lot of plastic. It is easy enough reduce this plastic waste by switching over to a bamboo toothbrush. Untreated bamboo is compostable, but even if you don't compost or have an organics program that accepts bamboo, the time it takes to decompose in a landfill is significantly lower.

One thing to watch for when choosing a bamboo toothbrush is the bristles. Some will still use plastic and even offer replacement bristles, so you don't have to replace the entire brush. Others will use natural fibers so the whole brush is disposed of once you're done. There are many options out there, you just need to choose what works best for your lifestyle.

7. Switch to silk dental floss

This is a plastic item that often gets overlooked. Due to its small size, it's easy to disregard it as a plastic waste problem, yet it still counts as plastic waste. This is fixable by switching over to silk dental floss. Most of these alternatives also provide plastic-free packaging, which is a double plastic waste reduction!

8. Use dry toothpaste

Plastic tubes of toothpaste are not recyclable and even if they were, it would be inconvenient to make sure they are empty and clean. You can reduce this plastic waste by switching to toothpaste tablets or powder. It's the same clean feeling on your teeth, but the companies making this type of product are making it with a more eco-friendly and often healthier, all-natural materials.

9. Chew your mouthwash

You can double down on reducing your plastic waste for your oral hygiene and use chewable mouthwash. Read the label on those because you can't swallow most of them. These products can help get rid of the plastic packaging waste in your home.

Reduce plastics in your cleaning products

10. Use natural sponges

We need to wash our dishes, but those go-to sponges are made from plastic. After you use them for a week or so, they get yucky looking and smelly, so of course you need to throw them out. They are not recyclable, so to the landfill they go. If every household is throwing away their plastic kitchen sponge every week, think of how much plastic waste that creates from one item!

The best solution is to change what you use for a sponge to reduce your plastic waste. If you want something like a classic kitchen sponge with a scouring pad on one side, walnut or coconut sponges are great options. But there are plenty of washable or biodegradable replacements, like natural sponges, regular dishrags, or Swedish dishtowels.   

11. Refill with soap tablets

This is a plastic waste reducing switch that is so simple and convenient to make. Instead of buying new soap dispensers, or even soap refill bottles, there are now dissolvable tablets that you can drop in water to fill you soap dispenser. Think of how much easier it would be to fill your dispenser up with water, dropping in a tablet, then shaking!

Some companies make tablets for your cleaning supplies too! Another easy way to clean around the house would be to make your own cleaning solutions from all natural ingredients.

12. Switch to laundry strips or powder

Raise your hand if you hate lugging around heavy laundry detergent containers! There's nothing lighter than laundry strips. They are already portioned out for you, and you just throw them in to replace the detergent. Then instead of a big plastic container that you don't want to bother rinsing out (because it needs to be empty and clean), you have a small recyclable cardboard envelope. Another option is laundry powder; the added bonus to this is that it doesn't contain polyvinyl alcohol, a dissolvable plastic.

13. Use dryer balls

You can get wool dryer balls everywhere now. Not only do they dry your clothes faster so you can use less energy on your drying time, they also replace your fabric softener. Just another big clunky plastic container you don't need to carry to the laundry!  

They last a long time, so you rarely must replace them, especially compared to the many plastic bottles or plastic dryer sheets you would normally be using. And if you want something scented, you can drop some essential oils on the ball which will freshen up the load nicely.

14. Get detergent in a box

Dishwashing has become an extremely plastic heavy market. Not only are most options coming out of a big plastic bottle - those dissolvable pods are made with plastic too. There are many ways plastic is making its way into our water, but this one seems obvious, and we do it on purpose.

There are so many dangers to our ecosystem when microplastics end up in our water, and subsequently the food chain. Detergent pods (including both dishwasher and laundry pods) are not an eco-friendly solution just because you aren't left with the packaging to deal with. Switching to a cardboard container makes for a much easier recyclable packaging option that reduces plastic waste.

15. Replace disposable dusters

Swiffer was a game changing cleaning invention, I'll admit. When it came on the market, it picked up so much more dust and dirt than regular sweeping. But now, there are plenty of microfiber cloths that do the same type of cleaning and are washable instead of disposable.

Buying a few of these is less expensive than buying disposable dusting cloths and you won't be throwing those disposable polyester cleaners away. Even if you don't switch to microfiber cloths and you use a regular old rag on your sweeper, you will reduce a bunch of polyester plastic waste in your home.

16. Avoid wet wipes

Wet wipes are a sneaky plastic. They look like they are maybe just like a paper towel or cloth even, but they are made from a mix of plastics. On top of that, so many of them say they are flushable, but there is no plumber in the world that will say it is a good idea to flush them. They cause a huge clogging problem when flushed. In addition, flushing these plastic items adds plastics to our groundwater.

Switching from wet wipes and disinfectant wipes around the house to towels, rags, and cleaning solution is a tiny adjustment, but a doable one. The harder switch would be if you have kids, and you use wet wipes while changing. There are many washable wipes on the market for diapers. And if you need them wet, you could buy or make some baby butt spray for clean up!

Cut down your dining plastic waste

17. DIY your water filtration

This plastic waste reducer is a little bit DIY, so may not be for everyone. You can replace your plastic Britta and disposable filters with either a Bichotan charcoal stick, or by using a Terracotta pot system.

Directions for these methods are here.

If this one is a bit too much to handle, you could buy a filtration system that uses less plastic, but they can be quite expensive. Companies like ZeroWater, Berkey Filters, and Soma are trying to lessen the plastic waste with their water filtration systems.

18. Invest in a reusable water bottle

Disposable plastic water bottles have become the norm for the last 30 years or so. It's hard to remember that we used to drink out of glasses. Now, more than one million plastic bottles are used per day worldwide! And only a small fraction of them get recycled.

The easiest solution to reduce plastic waste in your home and on the go is to carry a reusable water bottle with you. Plastic bottles are one of the leading contributors of microplastics in our water supply. If you're interested in stepping up your game in the fight against plastic in our water, you might even think about participating in a coastal cleanup program.

19. Bring your travel mug

Similarly to the reusable water bottle solution above, a reusable travel mug for your coffee would solve a huge problem with disposable plastic waste from coffee shops. Disposable coffee cups pose a big problem because they look like they are paper, but they are also lined with plastic.

This means most locations won't accept them in their recycling program. Plus, there are the plastic lids to think of too. Travel mugs are a quick and easy solution.

20. Avoid straws

This one seems obvious as we see the straw bans sweeping the country. The US has been disposing of half a billion straws a day for quite some time now. There are many plastic straw alternatives out there now and many fast food establishments have switched to paper straws as a disposable alternative.

21. Bring reusable containers and cutlery to work

Although Tupperware is plastic, it is reused over and over, so the plastic waste from these is significantly reduced when reused. It's even better when you can reuse containers that other food came in - for example, put your lunch in the old butter container and your salad in the old sour cream container.

Plastic cutlery is not usually accepted for recycling, so a great idea is to keep a fork, spoon, and knife in your desk drawer to reuse every day. That can help you reduce a lot of plastic waste at work.  

22. Ask for no extras with take-out

Take out can come with a ton of packaging. If you get black plastic containers, those aren't recyclable, so you should reuse them or see if there's a food pantry that may take them as a donation. Even if you get take out in cardboard containers, they run the risk of having grease and food absorbed into them which is a recycling contaminant. 

There's one simple way to lessen the takeout waste issue. Ask for no condiment packets and no plastic cutlery. That will mean less plastic waste from your meal.

23. Use beeswax wraps

Plastic wrap is one of those plastics that you might not even think about because it is so ingrained in how we store our food. A great plastic free alternative is to use beeswax wraps to cover bowls or store vegetables in the fridge. They come in different sizes and can last around a year with proper care. They are also usually compostable and have super cute designs!

24. Choose a sustainable sandwich bag

You can wash and reuse plastic sandwich bags the same way as Tupperware, but most people just throw them away after one use. If you're looking for a snack pouch, there are great washable cloth snack bags that can cut out your bag waste. On the other hand, if you're looking to keep something fresh, silicone bags are a great sustainable alternative. There are even freezer bag options out there.

25. Buy wine with natural corks

Cork is an amazing renewable natural resource. There is no need to cut down trees to harvest it. While it is not generally accepted as a recyclable item in curbside programs, there are plenty of cork recycling initiates, such as ReCork, that have come up with amazing products with recycled cork.  

Really there's no need for wine bottles to use plastic corks to add to plastic waste. If you're not sure which wines use real or plastic cork, there's an app for that. Otherwise, you can always choose a wine with a screw off top instead.

Buy more sustainable products

26. Bring your own bags

Plastic shopping bags cause a ton of problems in the world of recycling. They can be brought to drop-off locations for recycling at most grocery stores, but not in your curbside pick-up. Now there are also bag bans popping up all over the place. The best thing to do would be to get used to this inevitable change now, and carry reusable bags to the grocery store to reduce plastic waste.

27. Seek out plastic-free packaging

It's hard to be a plastic-free consumer since it's so common in our products now. But as more companies embrace how detrimental plastic packaging is to our environment, and as natural material options have become a more affordable option for businesses, we are starting to see a shift back to plastic-free materials.

I think as the next few years pass and more innovations in packaging come to light, we will see a positive change of companies moving to plastic-free packaging. If we as consumers start giving our money to companies that avoid plastic, other companies will continue to follow.

28. Wear natural materials

Textile waste is a major issue as clothing is less durable and more disposable. Worldwide, approximately 92 million tons of textile waste is generated per year. Of course, not all of that is plastic, but I bet if you look at the label on your clothing, very few items will be made of 100% natural materials. Not to mention the thread and actual labels often have plastic in them too.

When buying clothing, try to buy natural materials whenever possible to reduce the amount of polyester plastic ends up in a landfill down the line.

29. Switch to cloth diapers

Disposable diapers currently make up 30% of non-biodegradable waste in landfills. Switching from disposable to cloth diapers would help make a huge impact in reducing plastic waste in our landfills.

Cloth diapers are a bit overwhelming to new parents, but once you get the hang of it, it will be no problem at all. A bonus is that the upfront cost of cloth diapers will still be much lower than the overall cost you'll spend for disposables. If you don't want to deal with cleaning them, there are now many pick up services that will wash them for you.

30. Gift natural baby toys

Wooden and natural baby toys are a great way to avoid buying plastic. Babies put all toys in their mouths, so a wooden toy instead of a plastic one is a healthier option. The next baby shower you buy for, buy natural.

Try your best

Phew, that's a lot of plastic waste to think about! It's best to take things one at a time to not become overwhelmed. This list will help you recognize where you can have the most eco-impact on your next shopping trip. Keep this list in mind when making choices for your future purchases and you can reduce the plastic waste in your home significantly.

Plastic film recycling: an overlooked opportunity

We often focus on issues surrounding plastic bag recycling, but there is an important type of plastic that is commonly overlooked: plastic film and wrap. Plastic film recycling is a category of soft plastic that is similar to plastic grocery bags. The common exclusion of this material when talking about plastic bag recycling is potentially leaving out a vast amount of viable recyclable material that could be used to make new packaging.

What is plastic film?

Plastic film, plastic overwrap, and other soft plastic packaging is often found as an alternative packaging option for products that do not use cardboard packaging. Commonly, overwrap is found as packaging over paper towels, toilet paper, water bottles, and more.

Plastic film is made of polyethylene (PE) plastic. This type of plastic is commonly labeled #2 HDPE or #4 LDPE in the recycling loop. This does not mean all #2 and #4 plastics fall within this category, only that if it is #2 or #4 and flexible, it can be recycled with plastic grocery bags.

To be more specific about what constitutes flexible, let's clarify that if you can pull and stretch it with your hands, then it is probably plastic film. If it tears or makes a crinkling noise, it is not the type of plastic film accepted with plastic bags.

Additional materials in this category include plastic air-filled pouches for packaging, bubble wrap, dry cleaning bags, plastic bubble mailing envelopes, and plastic newspaper wrapping. For air-filled pouches, make sure to pop them before recycling them, and remove any labels from plastic bubble mailing envelopes or newspaper wrapping when applicable.

How to recycle plastic film

Plastic film is not accepted in the vast majority of curbside recycling programs. Plastic film is a type of soft plastic that is difficult to sort out and can easily get tangled in recycling center sorting machines. Unless you live in one of the rare locations that accept this material, you should never place this type of plastic in your curbside bins, but it is able to be recycled with plastic bags at designated drop-off locations.

It is important to remember that all plastic film that is meant for recycling must be clean and dry. There should be no stickers or debris on the plastic. If there is, you can remove that portion and recycle the remaining clean plastic.

Make sure you do not add any biodegradable or compostable plastic film to the bin. These types of packaging are made of an entirely different material and would contaminate a load of viable plastic film for recycling.

Where to recycle plastic film

It's quite common to find plastic bag and wrap bins at many grocery or retail stores. Many big box stores such as Walmart, Home Depot, Staples, and the majority of grocery store chains accept plastic bags for recycling. There is typically a bin in or around the entrance of these stores specifically meant for bag and film recycling.

These sites also provide plastic bag and film recycling resources for you to locate bins near you:

• Bag and Film Recycling
• NexTrex
• Earth 911

As with any recycling question, it's always worthwhile to check with your local recycling program to see if they accept plastic film or shopping bags as a drop-off item even if they do not accept them with curbside pick-ups.

How to recycle more

Plastic film is an often overlooked material that is completely recyclable through these drop-off programs. Since only about 9% of plastic produced is recycled, we need to make sure we are getting the plastics that are recyclable to the right places. Knowing what is and is not recycling can help us recover more materials in order to use less natural resources for new products.

The EPA estimates that 14.5 million tons of plastic packaging and containers are produced annually.

Now that you know a large amount of soft plastic packaging is actually accepted with plastic grocery bags, you can start helping to recover more materials for recycling.

Whether it's for a birthday, housewarming, graduation, or wedding, flowers always make an amazing gift. But what do you do with the flower bouquets after the event is over? Do you just dispose of them? Can you place them in jars for decoration? We have a few ways you can reuse, repurpose, or recycle your stunning blooms from petals to wrappers, especially if gently used.

Petals 

The petals are, of course, what makes a spring flower bouquet most beautiful. It is not unusual to feel guilty when throwing them away. The colorful and aromatically captivating petals will probably be screaming at you to hold on to them longer.

Instead of tossing them in the garbage after an event, there are a few creative ways to recycle used flower petals. Some of these include the following:

Drying them for use in décor

Drying is one of the best ways to recycle flowers  that you want to hold on to. Well, decorating with dried flowers is not rocket science. Simply dry the petals with the stems still intact and hang them in distinct areas of your home to serve as wall décor.

For the best effect, be sure to place them with the petals facing down. Also, dried foliage can be delicate, and could break when disturbed, so make sure to choose the best spot to avoid this.

Make potpourri

Used flower petals can be a great source of perfume, especially for your home. When the wedding or other occasion is over, pick up the best-scented flower petals and turn them into potpourri. So how do you make potpourri exactly? 

You will find dozens of potpourri recipes out there, but it simply involves mixing flower petals and other ingredients/spices, then heating them in an oven to create a fragrant blend. Most people use spices like cinnamon, thyme, and rosemary, as well as orange and lemon. Essential oils and water are also commonly included in the mixture to add flavor and consistency.

Consider composting 

If you have a green thumb or you're a fan of gardening, there's no better way to recycle florals than composting them. These colorful blooms still have a lot of nutrients despite their life having been cut short .

If you're wondering how, you may find this household guide to composting worth reading. Just isolate the petals, cut them up, and add them into your in-ground compost bin. There are rich sources of carbon and nitrogen in compost depending on how decomposed the flowers are.

Regift them

If your blooms still look fresh and bright after your ceremony, why not consider donating them or gifting them? You can even gift-wrap the flowers afresh before regifting them. Senior homes, hospitals, and charity organizations are some of the places you can donate slightly spent flower bouquets.

Wrappers 

Bouquet wrappers can be recycled in so many ways to make something unique, cute, and practical. Depending on what you are making, recycling bouquet wraps may require cutting, folding, shredding, or taping. Below is a list of ways you can reuse or recycle flower wrappers.

• Make future party decorations
• Create home décor items
• Make desk organizers with packaging
• And much more

Sustainable alternatives to giving cut flowers

As we might have mentioned already, fresh-cut flowers can only last for so long. With the utmost care and maintenance, many cut flowers only stay alive for seven to twelve days, give or take. This means that fresh flower gifts end up being disposed of quickly, raising concerns over their eco-friendliness.

Thankfully, there are several alternatives so you can still show someone how special they are to you with flowers. For instance, you can gift someone with the whole plant instead of its fresh flower cuts. Other common sustainable options include:

• Cacti and other succulents
• Potted plants
• Flower basket hangings
• Artificial flowers like Silk and Fabric variants
• A bonsai tree

While flowers make amazing gifts, no one said that gift-giving shouldn't be sustainable and environmentally friendly. By recycling flowers or using sustainable alternatives, you are actually reducing your toll on the environment. These tips can serve as your guide to recycling used flowers after a party, event, or ceremony.

Author Bio:

Claire Jane Ward is an experienced eco-lifestyle and marketing writer with a passion for creating insightful and engaging content that's easy to digest. She aims to help build a better future for the environment and its habitants by educating them to live sustainably in practical ways. Occasionally she spends her time playing with her cat while listening to her favorite podcasts.

With the rise of plastic pollution and the movement to reduce plastic waste, the possibility of Styrofoam Recycling is a critical question you need answers to. We will tell you all you need to know about the fundamental issues surrounding Styrofoam recycling today.

Technically Styrofoam is a specific brand of expanded polystyrene foam made by DuPont. Actual Styrofoam is made for construction and used as an insulation filler. Any of the foam plates, egg cartons, meat trays, cups, packaging inserts, coolers, etc. are actually expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) made from a wide variety of companies. Yet, colloquially, we still call it all Styrofoam. Calling all these items polystyrene is starting to catch on, but Styrofoam is what everyone typically knows all of these items as.

How bad is Styrofoam for the environment?

In addition to the many probable health risks that EPS foam creates, there are also several negative impacts from this material on our environment.

Being such a lightweight product that can sometimes break into tiny bits, Styrofoam packaging and containers can easily turn into an abundance of pollution in our environment from litter that is picked up by the wind. This can pollute land and water making it easy for wildlife to ingest as they mistake it for bits of food.

While initially Styrofoam type products were thought to be safe for the environment, it has now been determined that over time they release a gaseous methane derivative known as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). CFCs contribute to depleting the ozone layer, which is a large factor in climate change. The degradation of EPS or Styrofoam products accounts for almost 3% of CFCs in the atmosphere.

The disposal of this material is where the problem really lies. Polystyrene is made to be protected from the elements, so when it ends up in a landfill, it will not break down and will just be a contributing factor to increased waste. While the exact lifespan of these products is unknown, scientists speculate it will take at least 500 years for polystyrene to break down, if it ever does at all.

Is there an environmentally friendly way to dispose of Styrofoam?

If foam recycling is not an option in any given area, the other solutions are to add it to a landfill or to burn it. Neither of these options are particularly good. As previously mentioned, there is little chance of this material breaking down in a landfill for hundreds if not thousands of years.

As for burning polystyrene, this can be done safely and efficiently with the same types of byproducts as a car produces. This however means carbon dioxide. Carbon emissions, again, are a large contributor to climate change, so burning Styrofoam products is not a particularly environmentally friendly option.

Recycling Styrofoam or expanded polystyrene foam is the most environmentally friendly disposal, plus it reduces the need for making as much new Styrofoam, but it is not always accepted in most locations.

How does Styrofoam recycling work?

To recycle foam packaging, it is cleaned then shredded before being melted down into a paste then turned into pellets. These pellets are able to be sent to manufactures to produce new products.

There are also some recyclers using new advances in chemical recycling to break down polystyrene at a chemical level to reprocess it. This type of recycling can also accept polystyrene that is dirtier, such as food packaging that has been soiled, whereas traditional recycling methods for this material only accept clean foam. Chemical recycling is still fairly new and uncommon at this point.

Any kind of recycling of expanded polystyrene (EPS) is still overall an expensive process, so it is often not offered at local recycling facilities. Since making new EPS packaging from oil is typically cheaper than using recycled EPS materials, it is not considered cost effective by manufactures to use. If a recycling facility doesn't have a buyer for the recovered materials, then they don't tend accept that material to recover, since there would be nowhere for it to go.

Does Styrofoam go in my recycling?

The technology exists for expanded polystyrene recycling, but it does not mean your local recycling program automatically accepts it. It is important not to contaminate your recycling with materials that don't belong, so you should always look up what your recycling facility accepts and does not accept.

While many locations do not accept Styrofoam in their program, some programs may accept it at special drop-off locations or at certain collection events. This is often because Styrofoam breaks easily and sticks to other materials in your bin causing contamination. Please check with your municipality before assuming they offer Styrofoam or EPS recycling.

Are there alternatives to using Styrofoam?

There are almost always alternatives to using any type of plastic, so Styrofoam is no different. Avoiding single-use items of any kind is always a good idea. Using reusable containers, plates, etc. can significantly reduce your need for polystyrene.

Reusing foam packaging, such as packing peanuts, is a viable option if you end up with them. By reusing these types of items, you can keep them out of landfill longer, and you can avoid buying more of them.

Finding alternatives for Styrofoam packaging can be a bit trickier, but fortunately more and more biodegradable options are being put on the market these days. There are companies working on making polystyrene alternatives from mushrooms, corn starch, and other biodegradable materials. These types of innovations in plastics are game changers.

In Conclusion

With all the ins-and-outs surrounding Styrofoam recycling, it is important that you always check with your municipality to see if they accept any types of expanded polystyrene foam. You can search the 'What Goes Where' search tool on the Recycle Coach mobile app in participating areas.

Otherwise, try to avoid using EPS foam whenever possible so you can avoid plastic waste and reduce our need for more plastic to be produced.

There are a few different types of disposable coffee cups you could be recycling wrong. By adding items to the recycling that don't belong, you could potentially be contributing to recycling contamination.

On average, many municipalities struggle with high contamination rates ranging around 19%-40%. This can lead to a lot of lost recovery of viable recyclable materials.

With the frequency in which people drink coffee on the go, it's important to know what types of disposable coffee cups are not accepted in your program. By always looking up what your municipal recycling program allows, you can help keep contamination low.

Let's take a look at each kind of disposable coffee cup to see what you should do.

Paper coffee cups

Disposable paper coffee cups are the most common single-use cup for coffee nowadays. It may seem that since these cups are made from paper, they should be recyclable, but calling them paper cups is a bit misleading.

Paper coffee cups are actually lined with plastic, making them a more difficult to recycle. In most cases, when two materials, such as paper and plastic, are adhered together in a product, it is difficult for recycling facilities to separate them in order to recover one or both of the materials.

Due to the high use of this product, and the extreme amounts of waste so many to-go cups can create, many advances have been made in paper coffee cup recycling.

While this is exciting in regards to the progress for recycling and waste reduction, these technologies are not available everywhere yet. Only around 10% of recycling facilities currently accept these plastic-lined paper cups.

Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) are not all the same, and what sorting machinery they have at their disposal is usually different. This is why it is important to look up if paper coffee cups are accepted in your specific program or not.

Hopefully one day these types of disposable coffee cups will be universally accepted, but until then, it is important you double check so that you don't contribute to recycling contamination in your area.

Styrofoam coffee cups

Foam cups are becoming less and less prevalent in commercial coffee shops, but they are often still used at offices and events. Styrofoam cups, also known as polystyrene cups, are a type of plastic that has been traditionally difficult to recycle.

Most MRFs will not accept Styrofoam coffee cups due to the difficulty in breaking down the polystyrene material. Once again it depends on if a facility has equipment to handle Styrofoam, but there is another contamination issue at play with these.

Styrofoam cups typically have liquid residue left on them. Even if your program is one of the rare locations that accepts Styrofoam or polystyrene, it is probable that they would not accept foam cups or plates due to the high levels of food contamination.

Recycling Styrofoam typically requires a form of chemical recycling that would not be suitable for items with food or liquid residue left on them. So, in general, these types of disposable coffee cups should not be added to your recycling bin.

Clear plastic coffee cups

The popularity of iced coffee has infused another high frequency disposable cup into our daily lives. Clear plastic coffee cups are another item that is not universally accepted. The acceptance rates for this type of plastic are much higher than paper or foam cups though.

Around 50% of MRFs accept plastic cups for recycling. That once again means it is important for you to check your local program to see if they will take this type of plastic cup.

It is easier to keep these smooth plastic cups cleaner than porous foam cups, but it is still important to make sure they are also empty and clean before recycling (if your area recycles them).

Caked on food and liquids can be a detrimental source of contamination for a batch of plastics, so it is important to rinse or wipe your plastic cups before disposing of them.

Plastic coffee lids

Plastic coffee lids are also accepted in about half of recycling facilities throughout the U.S. and Canada, so you need to look up if they are accepted in your area.

With plastic coffee lids, it is important to distinguish if it is accepted based on the color of the lid. Even if a program accepts this type of plastic, they may not accept black plastic. Many sorting machines cannot identify black plastic due to the dark color, so these items can end up getting passed through into batches of other materials by mistake.

In addition to the invisibility of this material to the sorting machines, the black color makes it difficult to reconstitute into a new material. A company that would potentially be using this plastic for new products, would have trouble adding dye to a batch of plastic that already has black dye in it.

The confusing part about these lids is that there is usually a recycling loop visible on the top of the lid. It is important to keep in mind that any company can put the recycling loop on packaging, whether it is accepted everywhere or not. This misleading labeling can lead to a lot of recycling contamination.

So, it is always best to check with your specific program instead of assuming that an item is recyclable just because it has the recycling loop.

Cardboard cleeves

Cardboard sleeves are the only sure thing when it comes to coffee on the go. Cardboard is accepted everywhere for recycling, so no matter what other parts of your coffee cup can be recycled, you should be recycling the cardboard sleeve.

It may seem insignificant because it is so small, but with around 600 billion coffee cups being produced worldwide every year, there are potentially billions of cardboard sleeves to go along with them.

With so many disposable coffee cups being unrecyclable in so many programs, it is important to take advantage of this simple recycling opportunity. If you happen to get a cardboard drink carrier, make sure you add that to your recycling too.

Another way to be more sustainable would be to use your own reusable cup. Many coffee shops will allow you to bring your own travel mug for their drinks. And of course, you can bring your own coffee mug to keep at the office.

Look it ip

While there is no clear cut answer to each type of disposable coffee cup, the big take-away should be that the most important thing you can do when trying to recycle any type of disposable cup is to look up whether your program accepts it before assuming that it does so you can avoid recycling contamination.

1. Educate Yourself on Accepted Materials

Before you start separating your organic waste, familiarize yourself with the types of materials accepted by your program. Common organic waste does include most food items, but some programs may also include other organic materials as well. This varies from program to program, so make sure to look up items like yard waste, leaves, compostable plastics, and other biodegradable products such as paper towels. These items may or may not be allowed in your organics collection program. Knowing what your program accepts is the best way to help it thrive.

2. Invest in Suitable Containers

Invest in durable and appropriately sized containers for collecting organic waste in your home. Some municipalities may provide these items, while others will have a list of acceptable bags and containers. Consider using sealable bins or compost pails with tight-fitting lids to prevent odors and minimize the risk of attracting pests. Check with your program to see if they require organics collection to be loose or in bags. It is important to note that not all compostable or biodegradable bags on the market are suitable for organic waste collection, so it is best to see what your program recommends.

3. Establish a Convenient Collection System

Designate a convenient location in your kitchen or backyard for storing organic waste containers. Consider placing your organic waste bins near your food preparation area for easy access while cooking. Convenience is key to building the habit of proper organic waste disposal.  

Tip: If you have space in your freezer, consider keeping your compost in there until waste collection day. This will minimize the smell and make cleanup easier.  

If your program also accepts any outdoor organic waste, such as leaves, grass clippings, or weeds, keep an outdoor bin as well. Not all programs combine these two, so make sure to check how your program handles yard waste.  

4. Practice Proper Waste Separation

To maximize the effectiveness of organic waste collection, practice proper waste separation throughout your household. Encourage family members to separate organic waste from recyclables and other non-organic waste. Label containers or bins clearly to avoid confusion and ensure successful adherence to local collection guidelines.  

If you have multiple people residing in the same household, you may even want to post a note for each bin on what goes where based on the materials your home typically uses. Posting picture guides for kids can help them learn correct sorting easily.  

5. Make it a Habit

Getting used to organic waste collection can take a bit of practice, but if you try to establish a routine, you'll be able to hit the ground running. Setting up a process in your household can help establish good habits. You could do this by establishing specific days or times that the indoor bin gets emptied to avoid bad smells. You could also establish a routine while cooking by keeping a plate next to your cutting board to gather up scraps for the bin. Building habits to your existing routines can help boost the amount of organic waste collected.

Embrace Sustainable Waste Management Practices

Participating in organic waste collection is a proactive step towards sustainable living and environmental stewardship. By adopting these practical tips and integrating organic waste collection into your daily routine, you can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving natural resources, and promoting soil health in your community.

Composting is an effective way to manage garden and kitchen waste to create healthy soil. However, sometimes you may feel frustrated with the long composting time.

The good news is that you don't have to wait that long with the right methods. We will share three ways on how to speed up the process.  

Keep reading to find out more. 

How long does compost take to decompose?

The time taken by compost materials to decompose isn't constant. A compost pile can take a couple of weeks, several months, or even years. 

It all depends on how you manage the compost pile, the type of compost materials, composting method, and the timing of the compost. 

Remember don't feed any material directly into your compost pile, the first step to have a successful compost is to choose the right compost materials. Some materials decompose quickly, some take longer, and others don't decompose at all. 

1. Have the right ratio of brown to green materials

When choosing the composting materials you need to balance the brown and green materials. The brown materials refer to the long-dead woodier materials. These include twigs, straw, hay wood chips, fall leaves, shredded cardboard, and cornstalk. The browns have a higher content of carbon than nitrogen.

Green materials refer to recently dried plant materials. The greens either still possess green color or other signs of life in them. In the compost pile, the greens have a higher content of nitrogen than carbon. 

The quick decomposition of compost material requires the activities of both fungi and bacteria. Where bacteria like to feed on greens, fungi thrive on brown materials. 

When you don't balance the greens and browns, the pile won't compost efficiently. For example, if the compost grows a stinking smell (ammonia), it means you have fewer browns in the pile, and when you have fewer green materials, the pile won't heat up. Most gardeners propose the ratio of browns to greens at 4:1; however, you can still tweak the ratio depending on what you add to the compost pile. 

2. Shred the materials

Just having the right balance of browns and green in the composting materials isn't enough. Before you feed the material to the heap, you need to shred them into pieces. 

Cutting the grass clippings or leaves into smaller bits makes them decompose faster than when they are whole. Depending on what you wish to shred, you can use a lawnmower, leaf shredder, or chipper to break down the materials into smaller bits. 

Shredding the materials also helps to create air pockets in the bits of leaves, grass, and twigs. As a result, it boosts the aeration of the compost hip and thus increases the decomposition rate. 

As for kitchen waste, you can pass it through the blender first. Besides breaking them into bits, it also moisturizes them.

3. Try composting with worms

This green gardening method makes use of worms' natural diet, normally called vermicomposting. The process for vermicomposting is easy: you use food scraps and garden wastes, put them in the worm bins, and let worms go to work. 

With the right food, temperature, and moisture conditions, worms will eat, multiply, and excrete the beneficial worm castings after a few weeks. 

Worm castings have many benefits; they not only help break down organic materials faster, but also increase soil fertility and help plants become disease resistant.  

Meanwhile, vermicomposting also produces liquid fertilizer known as worm wee or worm farm leachate. Combine one part worm wee with ten parts water, you can get  nutrient-rich fertilizer for your indoor and outdoor plants.

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Happy composting!

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Author Bio:

Tiffany Lei is the founder at Garden Guidepost. She is passionate about gardening and hopes to inspire more people to adapt to the gardening lifestyle and start composting as a way to recycle organic materials.

The ongoing search for sustainable and eco-friendly power has led to remarkable advancements in the field of renewable energy.

Researchers, engineers, and innovators are tirelessly working to develop cutting-edge solutions as various sectors grapple with the challenges of climate change and strive to reduce their carbon footprints.

Here are some of the most exciting innovations shaping the future of renewable energy, from solar power to wind energy and beyond.

1.    Energy storage breakthroughs

One of the challenges of renewable energy sources like solar and wind is their intermittent nature. Storage technologies are crucial for overcoming this hurdle. Battery technology advancements, particularly the development of high-capacity and long-life batteries, are transforming the landscape.

Solid-state batteries promise higher energy density, faster charging times, and enhanced safety compared to traditional lithium-ion versions. These innovations pave the way for more reliable and efficient storage systems, ultimately supporting the integration of renewable power into the mainstream grid.

2.    Tidal and wave energy

Using the power of the ocean's tides and waves is an area of renewable energy that's gaining traction. Seawater is 832 times denser than air, making it a much more efficient source. Innovative technologies, such as underwater turbines and oscillating water columns, are being developed to capture the immense energy potential of our oceans.

These technologies provide a consistent and reliable energy source and have minimal visual impact, addressing some concerns associated with other forms of renewable power. They also have a lower environmental footprint, as they don't require large land areas and can be situated offshore.

3.    Advancements in wind energy

Wind energy is the largest renewable energy source in the United States, powering 10.1% of the country and continuing to grow. It continues to evolve with breakthroughs in onshore and offshore technologies.

Floating wind farms can tap into deeper waters where traditional fixed turbines are impractical. This innovation expands the geographical range for harnessing wind energy, making it possible to generate power in previously inaccessible locations.

Additionally, blade design and materials developments are improving wind turbines' efficiency and durability. These innovations increase energy output and contribute to reducing maintenance costs, making wind power even more economically viable.

4.    Hydrogen as clean fuel

Hydrogen has emerged as a promising clean fuel that can be produced using eco-friendly energy sources. Green hydrogen, produced through electrolysis powered by renewable electricity, is gaining momentum as a viable carrier.

This versatile gas can be used in various sectors, including transportation, industry, and heating, offering a green alternative to conventional fossil fuels.

5.    Renewable diesel

With fuel prices on the rise year after year, the search for alternatives has become more urgent. Renewable diesel represents a significant innovation in sustainable transportation fuels, offering a cleaner and more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional diesel derived from fossil fuels. It's created through a hydroprocessing method involving the hydrogenation of triglycerides and fatty acids.

This process results in a fuel that's nearly identical to petroleum-based diesel, making it compatible with existing engines and infrastructure. It delivers over 50% reduction in greenhouse gases when compared to petroleum-based diesel.

6.    Next-gen solar technologies

Solar energy holds enormous potential. Every 90 minutes, enough sunlight reaches the Earth's surface to meet the entire population's electricity demands for a year.

Solar power remains a frontrunner in the renewable energy race, and recent innovations are making it more efficient and accessible. Perovskite solar cells have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional silicon-based cells. They boast high-efficiency levels and are more cost-effective to produce, potentially revolutionizing the solar power landscape.

Manufacturers are also developing transparent solar panels for integration into windows, turning everyday surfaces into energy-generating assets. These innovations enhance power production and open up new possibilities for urban integration.

Additionally, advancements in bifacial solar panels enhance energy capture by using light reflected off surfaces, such as rooftops or the ground. This dual-sided absorption significantly increases the overall power yield, making solar installations more productive and efficient.

7.    Rechargeable tires

In the pursuit of sustainable transportation solutions, innovators have turned their attention to an unexpected component of vehicles - tires. Rechargeable tires involve integrating technology to harness and store energy during motion. This can power various automotive parts, reducing reliance on traditional power sources and contributing to increased fuel efficiency.

The rechargeable tire concept typically involves incorporating piezoelectric materials or electromagnetic generators within the structure. As the car moves, these components convert the mechanical energy generated by the friction between the tire and the road into electrical power. This is then stored in a battery integrated into the vehicle's tire.

The stored energy could power onboard sensors, lighting systems, or even electric components, reducing the overall power demand on the vehicle and enhancing its efficiency. While this concept is still relatively new, experts expect the market to grow exponentially in the coming years.

Hope for a greener future

The renewable energy sector is experiencing a rapid transformation fueled by groundbreaking innovations. From enhancing the efficiency of existing technologies to exploring new frontiers like hydrogen and tidal energy, these developments are driving humanity closer to a sustainable and cleaner future.

The dream of a world powered by green power becomes increasingly attainable as products evolve, offering hope for a greener and more sustainable planet.

Author Bio

Oscar Collins is the editor-in-chief at Modded. He has extensive experience writing about sustainability, green living, and electric vehicles, contributing to publications like Earth911, Mindset Eco, and Green Union. Follow him on Twitter @TModded for frequent updates on his work.