has it happened to you not knowing if a product is really recyclable, but when in doubt, have you deposited it in the container that you thought was correct? Even if it is not the intention, you may be polluting!
Although this behavior is common in responsible consumers, who want every single material to be used, it can spoil the recycling chain. This phenomenon has a name: wish cycling.
what is wish-cycling?
This term comes from English: wish means desire or aspiration, whereas, in this case, cycling refers to recycling. A) Yes, wish cycling It is a term that refers to recycling by aspiration.
This happens when we deposit something in a container, but we do not know exactly how it will be recycled and if this will actually happen. It is common that, when separating waste, questions such as “How can this be recycled?” either “what container should it go in?”.
This generally happens with products that have different components, for example paper and plastic. Also with those who are very small. As a consequence, rather than risk this item ending up in a landfill, we decided to recycle it. Does it happen to you? It’s something we all do, but we shouldn’t.
why should we avoid it?
Some of the consequences of wish cycling have to do with the treatment of the other products in the container, that they are recyclable. This practice makes the process difficult.
When mixed with those that are not, these products cause a waste of time and money at the recycling plant. Usually machines are used that are responsible for separating the materials. Some of these elements get stuck in them, due to their size.
It can also happen that a dirty product contaminates the process. For example, paper products, including pizza boxes, are mixed with water and then transformed into new paper products. Not all plants accept pizza boxes that contain fat, so it is advisable to check before placing them in the container.
how to prevent wish-cycling?
Due to its composition, many packages or objects cannot be recycled, so they should be deposited together with the rest of the trash. This may sound daunting to those striving for a cleaner planet.
However, the closest solution is avoid consuming products that contain this type of packaging or partswhich cannot be reused later.
In addition, it is essential to inform us about what happens to each of these materials once they have lost their usefulness and it’s time to throw them away. This, in addition to giving us more information about what we buy, makes us responsible consumers.
And you, what do you think about it? tell us in the comments
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