The Myths — Debunked

Every myth below is believed by millions of people. Some are harmless misunderstandings. Others actively contaminate recycling loads and send entire truckloads to landfill. This is the most important lesson on the site.

Myth 01 — “The recycling symbol on plastic means it can be recycled.”

Truth: The ♻ symbol on plastic indicates the resin type (1–7), not that your local program accepts it. Only #1 PET and #2 HDPE are widely accepted curbside. Always check your municipality’s list — not the symbol on the bottom of the container.

Myth 02 — “Plastic bags go in the curbside recycling bin.”

Truth: Never. Plastic bags, film, and wrap clog and destroy sorting equipment — causing facility shutdowns that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Use plastic film drop-off bins at grocery stores (Target, Walmart, Publix). Never in the curbside bin.

Myth 03 — “When in doubt, toss it in the recycling bin — it can’t hurt.”

Truth: Wishful recycling is the most destructive myth in this list. A single non-recyclable item can contaminate an entire load, sending hundreds of pounds of legitimate recyclables to the landfill. The rule is simple: if in doubt, leave it out.

Myth 04 — “Pizza boxes can’t be recycled.”

Truth: Partial myth. The greasy, cheese-stained bottom cannot be recycled — grease destroys paper fibers. But the clean top half usually can. Tear the box in half: top half goes in recycling, greasy bottom goes in compost (or trash if no compost). Don’t throw both away.

Myth 05 — “You need to crush aluminum cans before recycling.”

Truth: Do not crush cans. Sorting facilities use automated equipment that identifies cans by shape. A crushed can can fall through conveyor screens and miss the aluminum recovery line. Leave them uncrushed.

Myth 06 — “Paper coffee cups are recyclable.”

Truth: Most hot-drink paper cups are lined with a thin plastic or wax film that makes them non-recyclable in virtually all standard programs. Only a handful of specialized industrial facilities can process them. The plastic lids are typically #6 PS — also not accepted curbside.

Myth 07 — “Glass is always recyclable in the curbside bin.”

Truth: Many municipalities have stopped accepting glass curbside due to contamination and breakage — broken glass ruins paper, plastic, and metal at sorting facilities. Use dedicated glass drop-off containers or check your program at earth911.com before putting glass in the blue bin.

Myth 08 — “You need to remove staples and paper clips from paper.”

Truth: No. Modern sorting facilities use industrial magnets to remove staples, paper clips, and binder rings from the paper stream. You do not need to remove them. This is wasted effort that discourages people from recycling paper at all.

Myth 09 — “Electronics can safely go in the regular trash.”

Truth: E-waste contains lead (especially CRT screens), mercury, cadmium, and beryllium — heavy metals that leach into groundwater and soil from landfills for decades. It’s illegal in many US states to put e-waste in regular trash. Use certified e-waste recyclers — use our Lookup to find out where.

Myth 10 — “Recycling is always the most sustainable option.”

Truth: Recycling is near the bottom of the sustainability hierarchy. The actual order is: Refuse → Reduce → Reuse → Repair → Refurbish → Recycle → Rot (compost) → Dispose. Recycling uses energy and water. Not buying the thing in the first place is always better — the heart of our Gratitude Hierarchy.

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