What Happens if You Throw Your Waste in the Wrong Coloured Bin?
After the lunch break, you throw your coffee cup, yogurt container and plastic bag in the yellow bin.
Is it the right garbage bin to dispose of the coffee cup? Of course, not. That’s because the lids of yogurt containers and coffee cups are made of different kinds of plastic, which can disturb the recycling process.
A majority of people have been throwing waste in the wrong bins. By dumping non-recyclable items in the recycling bin, you do more harm than good.
So, if you want to know what happens after throwing waste in the wrong coloured bin, refer to our guide as we’ve mentioned everything you need to know. Dive in for the details!
Reasons To Avoid Throwing Waste In The Wrong Bin
Bread bags, plastic bottles, pizza boxes – you cannot simply toss anything in the recycling bin. That’s because when you throw non-recyclable waste in recycling bins, they will jam up the machines, leading to further issues.
For instance, plastic bags wrap themselves around the machinery in the recycling facilities, which costs thousands of dollars for repair. So, here are some reasons why disposing of waste in the right bin is important.
1. Waste Contamination
Have you ever looked at the rubbish you dump in the garbage bin every day? Cardboard, paper, soft plastics, and boxes are common waste generated by every household. Though dumped in one garbage bin, all household wastes aren’t recyclable.
When recyclables are dumped with non-recycling materials, the entire waste truck is dumped in the landfill. Hence, you cannot throw waste in the wrong bin and expect recycling facilities to segregate it.
Moreover, unwashed jars and broken glass contaminate materials meant for recycling.
2. Infestation
Did you know that dumping all the waste in a general waste bin can lead to pest infestation? Not only that, but vermins also go through the trash, and the recyclable materials get contaminated. Hence, the whole batch of waste is ruined, making it unfit for recycling.
3. Hefty Fines
Throwing waste items in the wrong bins can invite hefty penalties. Of course, nobody wants that to happen, which is why you must avoid dumping incorrect items in recycling bins.
Sadly, most homeowners don’t segregate waste and throw it in official bins hoping that those who collect will sort it. Though the bins from the local council are kept for waste collection, it doesn’t mean that homeowners can throw their rubbish without sorting. If you do so, you can be liable to pay a considerable sum, so it is better to throw waste in the right bin.
4. Decreased Efficiency
When heaps of waste arrive for recycling, they aren’t straight away tossed in the machinery. Instead, they go through a sorting process before being recycled. Mostly, companies use single-stream recycling where all the materials are mixed and sorted by the machinery as they go down the line.
However, non-recyclables get in the way and disrupt the process, which is why employees have to hand-pick those materials. The more the non-recyclables in the heaps, the harder the employees have to work to sort them.
5. Environmental Issues
Besides decreasing efficiency, recycling the wrong materials is also harmful to the environment. When non-recycling materials reach the facilities, they are transferred to the landfill, incurring extra transportation costs, which could have been avoided with careful waste dumping.
6. Damage To The Equipment
Believe it or not, non-recyclable materials such as wire hangers, plastic bags, string lights, hoses, and broken glass can cause catastrophic damage to the machinery. And repairing these machines costs a bomb while also putting the employees’ lives at risk.
Not only that, but these materials can cause fires, which is why residents need to be mindful of what they are dumping in the recycling bin.
Basic Rules For Dumping Things In A Recycling Bin
Understanding the rules of your local recycling service is most important when it comes to dumping materials. However, here are some basic rules that everyone can adopt to ensure effective recycling. Let’s take a look!
1. Dump Only Empty, Dry And Clean Waste Material
As a rule of thumb, make sure you throw only empty, dry and clean waste in the recycling bin, so wipe and rinse every container that comes in contact with food before throwing it in the trash can.
2. Don’t Bag Recyclables
Stuffing bottles of jam and milk in one bag is a big no-no. That’s because they cannot be sorted properly, which means they won’t be recycled and may end up in landfills.
Furthermore, most councils don’t accept soft plastics such as bread bags and toilet rolls. Hence, we suggest you check with your local council to know if there’s an alternative method to recycle these materials.
3. Flatten Pizza Box Before Dumping In The Recycling Bin
While disposing of a pizza box, don’t forget to flatten it as it takes less space in the bin and helps the recycler, preventing machine damage.
4. Avoid Throwing Shredded Paper In The General Waste Bin
If you’ve got a stack of textbooks, you’re free to send them for recycling, but small stuff like shredded papers cannot be recycled. So, make sure you throw contaminated items like tissues and paper towels in the general waste bin.
Final Words
And there you have it – everything that happens when waste is disposed of in the wrong coloured bin.
Honestly speaking, disposing of waste in the proper manner isn’t challenging and can be done correctly by following some rules. However, if you’re not sure how to get rid of the waste in and around your property, don’t hesitate to contact a rubbish removal company.
That being said, we’ll wrap up for the day. Do take care and stay safe!
