What’s the Dirt on Recycling?

Let’s break it down, (literally). Ever heard of industrial ecology? Don’t worry, neither had we. Industrial ecology, in relation to recycling, seeks inspiration from natural ecosystems. The way natural ecosystems function is cyclical – AKA things go where they’re supposed to, and then get recycled back into the system for future use in some way or another. 

The goal of industrial ecology in recycling is to mimic these natural processes for our human practices. How can we find a way to return our materials back into a system where we can make from them again?

...ABSOLUTELY! Recycling protects the environment by reducing landfills, air pollution, and water pollution. We also know it saves energy, because using recycled materials consumes way less energy than producing new products from raw materials. On top of that, recycling conserves raw materials and protects natural habitats for future generations.

Only 8% of recycling actually gets recycled. How could this be? Well, recycling facilities have different capabilities depending on where you live. For example, materials like aluminum foil are “highly recyclable,” yet they may not be accepted in some facilities.

This is something called ‘wishcycling’ – aka tossing something in the recycling bin without knowing whether it can be recycled. While it’s tempting to recycle everything and hope for the best, this practice can actually contaminate the recycling stream.

Local restrictions and the unique capabilities of each facility are contributors to this issue, but the recycling stream also gets disrupted when things get tossed that aren’t recyclable. Despite our best intentions, items like coffee cups, plastic bags, paper towels, receipts and polystyrene (styrofoam takeout boxes) usually aren’t recyclable!

Here’s one solution: find out what your local facility can process! The best way to do this is by going to your city or county’s sanitation website to find out what your local facility can accept. Check out resources like www.berecycled.org to learn more about your local facilities.

Recycling is beneficial for our environment; we have to give back to the Earth – it literally grows our food. An easy way to care for the environment is by supporting brands who are doing the work. Seek out companies that are innovating their packaging so that it’s recyclable and compostable. 

At Daily Harvest we’re working towards 100% recyclable and compostable packaging,  check out our website to learn what’s currently recyclable and compostable.