Separate waste collection is essential to reduce environmental impact and ensure proper recycling of materials. However, many common mistakes can compromise the process. Today we want to present you with a list of points to remember if you want to do your separate waste collection effectively.
Glass and ceramic cups DO NOT go in the glass
Although they may look similar, glass, ceramic, porcelain and Pyrex are not compatible with glass recycling. These materials must be disposed of in the unsorted waste or at collection centers.
Biodegradable and compostable plastic DOES NOT go in the plastic bin
Biodegradable and compostable plastic, such as bags marked "OK Compost", must be disposed of in the organic waste, not in the traditional plastic container.
Rinse dirty containers
Plastic, glass and metal containers (such as jars and bottles) must be rinsed before disposal. Food or drink residues can compromise the recycling process.
Tetra Pak must be separated if required
Tetra Pak (for example milk and juice containers) is a composite material. Check if in your municipality it should be disposed of with paper, plastic or unsorted waste.
Food-soiled paper and cardboard DO NOT go in the paper bin
Greasy pizza boxes or food-soiled napkins should be disposed of in the organic bin, not in the paper bin. Only clean paper or cardboard packaging should be disposed of in the paper bin.
Do not mix different materials
Packaging composed of different materials (e.g. plastic trays with aluminium lids) must be manually separated before being recycled.
The light bulbs do not go in the glass
Light bulbs (both halogen and LED) must be disposed of at WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) collection centers.
Avoid plastic bags for organic waste
Organic waste should be placed in biodegradable and compostable bags. Traditional plastic bags contaminate the compost.
Used clothes go in dedicated bins
Clothes should not be thrown in the unsorted waste. Use the bins for the collection of used clothes to send them to a proper disposal or recycling process.
Don't crush the bottles too much
Crush plastic bottles vertically, not horizontally: this makes them easier to recognize during the sorting phase.
Packaging with the wording “C/PAP” goes in the plastic bin
If you find the words "C/PAP" or similar, it means that the packaging is made of plastic and paper and must be disposed of in plastic (unless otherwise indicated).
Do not dispose of toner and cartridges in unsorted waste
Printer cartridges and toners must be taken to specific collection centers or returned to retailers.
Coffee capsules are complex to recycle
Coffee capsules, whether made of plastic or aluminum, are difficult to recycle due to organic residues. Check if the manufacturer offers a dedicated recovery service or take the capsules to specific collection centers.
Chip bags DO NOT go in the plastic
Chip bags and other snacks are made of mixed materials (plastic and aluminum). They should usually be disposed of in the unsorted waste, unless otherwise specified.
Paper cups with plastic lining are not recyclable
Paper cups for hot drinks contain a plastic coating that makes them difficult to recycle. They should generally be disposed of in the unsorted waste.
Disposable gloves do NOT go in the plastic
Gloves made of latex, nitrile or plastic are not recyclable and must be disposed of in the unsorted waste.
Pasta or biscuit packages with transparent windows must be separated
Paper packaging with a transparent window (e.g. for pasta or biscuits) must be separated: paper in paper, plastic in unsorted waste.
Toothpaste tubes are NOT recyclable
Toothpaste tubes are made of mixed materials (plastic and aluminum) and should be disposed of in unsorted waste.
In short, these are some examples of mistakes that we commonly make when we separate our waste. If you want the separation to have a real purpose, it is very important to pay attention to small things that can have a big impact when we throw away our waste.