Every year, millions of tonnes of paper, plastic, and other recyclables are collected through drop-off centres and collection services, yet much of this valuable material is compromised before it even reaches the recycling facility. Mixing certain recyclables like glass and plastic can significantly degrade the quality of recycled materials and hinder effective recycling processes.
“In an effort to increase recycling success and improve the quality of materials sent to processing centres, we need to highlight the issue of mixing commonly recyclable items that can create problems down the line,” says John Hunt, Managing Director of Mpact Recycling. One of the most common challenges faced by the recycling industry is the growing trend of storing or disposing of other materials inside plastic bottles, such as cigarette butts, chip packets or toxic chemicals. While well-intentioned, the practice of eco-bricking also mixes materials into plastic bottles so consumers must remember that eco-bricking in itself renders all the materials involved unrecyclable. Eco-bricking is packing plastic bottles with non-recyclable waste materials tightly together to form a brick structure to build houses or furniture. While a noble and innovative thought at heart, this practice compromises the recyclability of valuable PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles, which could otherwise be recycled into new plastic products. Instead of contributing to the circular economy, eco-bricks ultimately add more complexity to the waste stream and, when ecobricks do not end up making the products they’re intended to, this makes it much harder to process and recycle the plastics effectively. “We’ve seen how a simple action has serious knock on effects such as mixing glass with paper can lead to whole batches of recyclable material being rendered unusable,” says Hunt. “This reduces the total amount of recyclables that can be processed into new products, which in turn harms the environment by increasing waste sent to landfills.” When recyclables are improperly mixed, it can drastically reduce the efficiency and effectiveness of sorting and processing efforts. Waste management facilities rely on a clear separation of materials to ensure high-quality output, which is then cleaned and processed into marketable commodities.
For example, paper and cardboard are pulped and de-inked to make new products, while plastics are shredded, melted, and transformed into pellets. But when contamination occurs due to the mixing of incompatible items, the quality of the end product suffers, meaning less material can be reused in production
Quality recycling is critical in ensuring that waste is diverted from landfills and reintegrated into the production process. When done correctly, recycling conserves natural resources, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and saves millions of cubic metres of landfill space, water, and energy that would otherwise be used in manufacturing with virgin materials. But this success relies heavily on the quality of the materials delivered to recycling centres. Mpact Recycling works closely with local communities and organisations to raise awareness about the importance of separating recyclables properly. “Our goal is to inspire and educate individuals and communities to adopt responsible recycling practices,” Hunt explains.
“Each tonne of waste that is properly recycled makes a measurable difference in protecting the environment and ensuring the longevity of our resources.”
So how do we solve the challenge?
The key to effective recycling lies in understanding the challenges faced by waste management systems. By properly separating recyclables like glass, plastic, and paper, consumers can significantly improve the quality of materials sent to recycling centres. “Simple actions, such as avoiding disposing of other materials inside plastic bottles and making sure that glass bottles are not mixed with other recyclables, can have a profound impact on the success of recycling efforts,” concludes Hunt.
