Are you recycling or ‘wishcycling’?

America Recycles Day is Thursday, Nov. 15 and the staff members at the West Central Solid Waste District would like to spotlight that often confusing or frustrating ritual that residents try to do for the sake of our environment.

Now that most recycling is done in single stream (putting mixed recyclables in the same container) there seems to be a lot of “wishcycling” going on.

Wishcycling is the practice of placing items in curbside totes or recycling drop-off bins that people are not sure are recyclable with the hope that someone will do the right thing with them. This practice adds a lot of wrong materials into the recycling stream, causing contamination.

Dirty recycling is a main factor in why China and other large consumers of United States recyclables no longer want them, as they are full of trash. Right now, quality of recyclables is much more important than quantity.

A few things that should never be placed in a recycling bin include: Electronics, household batteries, light bulbs, pots, pans, garden hose, plastic children’s toys, wood, furniture, motor oil containers, paint, scrap metal, window panes and many other items.

Single-use plastic bags, for example, should not go into your recycling bin. Items like grocery bags, bread bags and plastic wrap can cause havoc by wrapping around state-of-art conveyors and jamming machines. Many grocery stores offer recycling opportunities for single-use plastic wrap/film. Consider reusable shopping bags that can be washed and reused over and over.

Everyone needs to recycle the right items in order to clean up the recycling stream. Placing items in recycling bins because you think they ought to be recycled is incorrect. Check signage at recycling locations or with your hauler if you are unsure if something is recyclable and do not throw unlisted items in the bin.

The staff at West Central Solid Waste District is happy to guide you in recycling and proper disposal of materials in a way that won’t harm the environment by calling 800-211-2750.