Our landfills are quickly reaching max capacity, and recycling has become an important part of waste removal. Unfortunately, there’s plenty of misinformation about this process, which may leave you confused about what items you’re allowed to recycle and how to make sure they end up at the right facility.

4 Myths About Recycling

1. You Don’t Need to Sort Your Items

In contrast to your regular garbage bin, you do need to sort through your recyclables. This is because each material is processed and recycled differently. To facilitate recycling at home, designate separate bins for glass, plastic, paper, and aluminum, and sort them as you discard them.

2. You Can’t Recycle Composite Materials

Although there have been limitations in the past, you can now recycle most items made from a variety of materials. These may include milk cartons, toys, lightbulbs, and electronics. Keep in mind that you’ll need to schedule a separate pickup appointment for dangerous or combustible items, like batteries.

3. You Can Only Recycle Items Once

You can recycle most items repeatedly. For instance, paper products may be recycled about five to seven times. Glass, metals, and aluminum are particularly valuable because you can recycle them indefinitely.

4. Recycling Is Difficult 

This process is extremely easy, and once you have the proper bins, simply throw your recyclables into them and schedule a pickup. You don’t even need to rinse the items before disposing of them. It may be challenging to start the habit of recycling, so keep your bins next to your trash cans so that you’ll remember to sort them.

Do your part to help the environment by scheduling recycling with Rainbow Waste Services in Kapolei, HI. Their team has over 50 years of combined experience, and they’ve provided dependable waste management services, including trash pickup, recycling, and dumpster rentals, to residents and businesses throughout Oahu. Call (808) 682-4797 to schedule a pickup, or view their services online.