Recycling Myths Debunked: The Truth Behind Recycling

From recycling equipment to what can actually be recycled, there are so many recycling myths out there that simply aren’t true. As experts in waste material recycling machines, we are revealing the truth behind recycling and debunking some of the myths we come across the most.

Myth 1: Materials Can Only Be Recycled Once

We hear this a lot from individuals who simply don’t understand how recycling different materials works. The truth is, every material differs slightly when it comes to how many times it can be recycled. The majority of everyday items, such as glass and metal, can be recycled indefinitely. Despite being processed time and time again, these materials do not lose their quality or purity. When it comes to and recycling machinery, some can be reused time and time again, while others are limited because the polymers will breakdown in the process. Paper is another material which can be recycled multiple times, because even when it does lose quality, it can be used for lower end paper-based materials.

Myth 2: Materials Don’t Need To Be Washed Before Going In Recycling Equipment

Whether it is at home or in a business, many people refuse to wash recyclables before throwing them in the recycling bin because they feel it is a waste of time. It is very important that materials are rinsed before going into recycling machinery as it stops other items from becoming contaminated.

Myth 3: Non-Recyclable Items Can Be Put In Recycling Equipment

Many people seem to believe that putting non-recyclable materials into waste recycling machines is not a problem. Actually, this is one of the biggest challenges that recycling centres face and it causes a lot of issues. Removing these rogue items by hand takes a lot of time, and not only that, but they can end up damaging the used recycling equipment. When too many non-recyclables find their way into a single load, the entire lot could be sent to landfill because sorting it is too time consuming.

Myth 4: Recycling Doesn’t Need To Be Separated

It is a common misconception that all recyclables end up in the same place and get all mixed together later in the process. This couldn’t be further from the truth, as recycling requires complete separation of different materials. Separating these items before they go into recycling equipment is far easier than recycling plants trying to separate them later down the line.

Myth 5: Black Plastic Can’t Be Recycled

There is a little bit of truth behind this myth, and we understand where the confusion has come from. Most recycling machinery is unable to handle black plastic because they can’t detect the pigments in it. In actual fact, the plastic can technically be recycled, but a lot of equipment isn’t able to deal with this. An alternative black pigment has recently been developed to combat this issue, but uptake from product manufacturers has been slow so far.

For more information on recycling and recycling equipment for your business, speak with our team.