Many people believe that the disposal of recycled materials is free. Unfortunately, that is a misconception. There are many costs that are associated with recycling – increased costs are a result of contamination of material, the value of recovered waste products, and import/export regulations.

Below, we’ve compiled a few resources to help inform you of the real cost of recycling.

wasteadvantagemag.com/the-cost-of-dirty-recycling/
usatoday.com/weak-markets-make-consumers-wishful-recycling-big-problem
money.cnn.com/news/china-scrap-ban-us-recycling/
forbes.com/china-will-no-longer-take-our-recycled-junk

The reality is that recycling is impacted by global economics, technological limitations, laws, and consumer awareness. While recycling is something easy that everyone can do, we need to be educated about what we are disposing of – whether it’s trash or recycling – and why. Before you throw it in your recycling bin, consider

First: REDUCE, Second: REUSE, Third: RECYCLE.

When we are making a purchasing decision, consider these questions: Do I need it? What kind of packaging does it come in? Can I buy it used? How can I reuse this item and/or the packaging?