Recycling Myths

Listed below are some myths about recycling. Our goal is to help clear any misunderstandings about recycling.  

Recycling means more material to collect.  

Fact: The same amount of waste is generated as with an all-disposal system. That waste is just separated into useful categories that can be reprocessed into usable goods. 

Not recycling is cheaper than recycling. 

Fact: Recycling should always be compared against disposal, since the material still must be transported off campus. Not recycling means paying for disposal. 

Since we have plenty of landfills, recycling isn't important.  

Fact: Recycling has many more benefits than reduced landfill use, the chief of which are:

• The conservation of natural resources (trees, oil, minerals, etc.)
  
• Reduced energy consumption, which leads to more limited pollution and environmental impact associated with clear-cutting, oil drilling, mining, burning coal to melt steel, etc.

By recycling, you are conserving natural resources and reducing the amount of pollution and greenhouse gasses released into the environment. Also, the impact of landfills is greater than simply the space they take up. As organic matter (anything that was once living) breaks down in a landfill, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By reducing the amount of organic material sent to the landfill by composting, paper recycling, etc., you are helping to reduce greenhouse gasses. 

Recycling bins are ugly and cannot fit into the campus aesthetic.

Fact: Recycling bins, which are the same as trash bins, come in every shape, style and color, and can fit into nearly any aesthetic scheme. 

Someone goes through the trash and pulls out the recyclables before it goes to the landfill. 

Fact: Anything thrown into the trash can and will end up in the landfill. The labor required to sort through trash after it has already been mixed is prohibitive and so almost never happens. The only feasible way of separating recyclables is "source separation," meaning people separate their trash at the time they throw it away. The only effort there is the difference between throwing trash into one bin or another. 

Only white paper is recyclable. 

Fact: Just about any type of paper is technically recyclable, including envelopes, Post-it notes, colored paper, newspaper and magazines. Some universal restrictions are waxy or thermal paper (for older fax machines), laminated paper and food-stained paper. However, recycling companies require different mixes and restrictions. 

Incineration is safe these days, and you can burn trash for the electricity.

Fact: Incineration still produces emission into the air including air pollutants and greenhouse gasses. While it is true that some incinerators also produce electricity, it is not without impact. Recycling the material, or reusing or reducing its use, will save electricity and is a much more efficient way of handling the material. 

It is OK to throw something away as long as it is biodegradable.

Fact: Biodegradable waste breaks down into methane in the landfill. It is usually released into the atmosphere, where it is a potent greenhouse gas. A better solution is to recycle the material, or even better, reuse it or reduce its use altogether. Non-biodegradable waste does not produce methane, but it also will not break down in the landfill, thus using more space.