Recycling has been a part of our lives for several years now, but it still often creates a lot of confusion. Have you ever had a Hamletic doubt about where to throw a certain product or food waste? This uncertainty is quite common, especially when it comes to more specific, less common types of waste: while more or less everyone has learned the recycling symbols, how to identify them, and what to throw in the paper, plastic, organic, glass, and unsorted bins, some items still cause quite a few problems.
It's not always clear what the materials we use in the kitchen are made of, and we may confuse them with other recyclables, creating serious problems for the entire disposal and recycling process. A classic example is broken glasses, which we instinctively tend to throw in the glass bin, but which, in most cases, are not made of glass. This is just one of many examples of everyday objects that should never be put in the recycling bin: here are the ones that create the most confusion and how to dispose of them correctly.
Why It's Important to Recycle Properly
Recycling is a very useful system for protecting the environment and avoiding waste: it involves grouping municipal waste by type so that it can be recycled, encouraging sustainable waste management. It's a daily practice you're used to, but do you really know why it's important and, above all, why it's crucial to do it correctly? You often don't realize how much waste you generate in your daily life—not just cooking, but any activity, even the most common: drinking a soft drink, reading a newspaper, or buying an item in paper or plastic packaging—only to end up with something you don't need and toss in the trash.
Disposing of all this waste, sorting it according to established guidelines—both general and municipal (some rules vary from municipality to municipality)—means contributing to the fight against climate change and air pollution because this type of management allows for a reduction in landfill waste, especially of toxic materials. Furthermore, reusing raw materials after recycling allows for significant savings in natural resources and, therefore, a reduction in polluting emissions.
This is why it's so important to know exactly how to dispose of each type of material, knowing the general and local regulations. Otherwise, you might miss your waste being collected by operators and instead find a sticker labeled "non-compliant waste." What does this mean? It's applied to materials separated incorrectly, not in compliance with local regulations, such as plastic in cardboard or organic waste in non-compostable bags, ceramic in glass, or receipts in paper. Such errors result in non-collection, which is indicated with stickers or labels, and can result in administrative fines due to the impossibility of recycling.
A high rate of non-compliance compromises the quality of waste sorting and leads to higher disposal costs: this is why it's very important to know where various types of waste should be disposed of, especially the more specific and less common types that are most likely to lead to misuse.
Kitchen Waste That Should Never Go in The Plastic Bin
The most common and widespread mistake is to believe that any plastic item can be disposed of in the plastic recycling bin: this isn't the case, because there are many different types of plastic, and not all of them are recyclable. Only PET, PE, and PVC packaging (containers, bottles, tubs, trays, films, and bags) emptied of food residue, disposable plates and cups, polystyrene (but not all), and fruit nets should be included in the plastic recycling bin. Everything else? Here's where you should throw it.
1. Styrofoam
Polystyrene is one of the most confusing materials, partly because the regulations vary from municipality to municipality: some classify it entirely as plastic, others classify it as "multi-material" (that is, combining plastic, glass, and aluminum), and still others distinguish between food-grade polystyrene and packaging polystyrene. Food-grade polystyrene, such as that used in food trays, should be washed and disposed of in the plastic bin, while packaging polystyrene, such as that used to cover appliances, should be disposed of in the unsorted or multi-material bin. To be sure, consult your municipality's regulations.
2. Spray Cans
First of all, you should never throw away half-full spray cans, as they contain flammable liquids and are therefore very dangerous. That said, where should you dispose of used spray cans? If they're completely empty and free of hazard symbols, you can throw them in the plastic bin (or metal bin, again depending on local regulations). However, if they contain residue, paint, insecticides, or are flammable (hazard symbols), they must be taken to municipal waste collection centers.
3. Hangers and Coat Racks
Hangers and coat hangers are disposed of based on their material: if they're made of plastic, they're considered recyclable household packaging and should therefore be disposed of in the plastic bin. This rule varies from municipality to municipality, however, so it's always best to check your local regulations: they're generally not considered packaging and therefore shouldn't be disposed of in the plastic bin. However, if you have hangers of other types, such as wood, metal, or mixed materials (wood-metal or metal-plastic), they shouldn't be thrown in the unsorted waste bin, as is commonly believed, but should be taken to the municipal waste collection center.
4. Plastic Bags
It may seem obvious, but not all plastic bags can be placed in the appropriate bin: sometimes they're made of recyclable plastic, other times composite materials. The best thing to do in this case, too, is to find out what type of material you need to dispose of and consult the regulations on municipal websites.
5. Plastic Cutlery
A very common mistake is to throw plastic cutlery along with disposable plates and cups in the plastic bin. This is actually incorrect: unfortunately, they should go in the unsorted waste collection because these materials cannot be considered "packaging." Separate plastic collection only concerns objects designed to contain, protect, and transport goods. Naturally, however, each municipality can equip itself with plastic recycling facilities: so consult the municipal regulations regarding separate waste collection to ensure they go in the unsorted waste or in the plastic bin. To avoid situations like this, legislations are increasingly eliminating disposable plastic tableware and replacing it with compostable materials; if you find the compostable product certification (EN 13432) on the packaging, disposable cutlery should go in the organic waste bin.
6. Objects Made of Rigid Plastic and Mixed Materials
This is the category of objects that causes the most mistakes: not all plastic is recyclable, so even if your instinct is to throw toys, basins, garden chairs, pens, sunglasses, or toothbrushes in the plastic, you absolutely must not do so. These are products designed to be durable goods, so they are composed of complex plastics (often PVC or plastics with special additives to make them durable) that have a different melting point and technical characteristics incompatible with packaging plastics, which is why throwing them all together in the plastic bin would make recycling very difficult or of poor quality. Not only that: many of the objects mentioned, for example toys or toothbrushes, contain mixed materials that make recycling difficult or impossible if thrown together with plastic. So where should you throw them? If they are small objects, without batteries or electronic components, you can throw them in the unsorted waste; if they are large objects, they should be taken to the municipal collection center; if they are electrical objects, they should be managed as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment).
Kitchen Waste That Should Never be Thrown Into the Paper, Glass and Organic Waste Bins
It's not just plastic that creates confusion: paper, glass, and organic waste are all categories where you tend to throw any object or food scrap, but even in this case you need to be careful. Even if it looks like paper or glass, the object you need to dispose of could be made of multiple materials or be a type of paper or glass that cannot be recycled. The same goes for organic waste, which cannot accommodate just any food scrap because not all of it is disposable. Here are the most common mistakes.
1. Receipts
How many times have you thrown away a receipt from the wastepaper bin? It's one of the most common mistakes, but it's actually easy to avoid: just by touching it, you can tell that receipts aren't made of paper but of thermal material, a special substance used to resist the passage of time and prevent fading, because they are essentially proof of payment. Chemicals are used in their production: for this very reason, just like bus tickets, they should be thrown in the unsorted waste.
2. Pizza Box
Pizza boxes are one of the most confusing types of kitchen waste, because even though they're among the most common, no one knows exactly where to throw them. This is because there's no hard and fast rule; their disposal depends on a number of factors. Generally speaking, remember that if the box is clean, meaning it doesn't have any food residue or oil stains, you can shred it or fold it to save space. If the inside of the box is dirty, you should remove the food residue and dispose of it in the organic waste bin, then reduce the size of the box and dispose of it in the general waste bin.
3. Pyrex Dishes
Surely you have at least one baking pan, container, or dish in your kitchen that you think is glass. It's actually made of Pyrex, a special type of glass (borosilicate) specifically designed to withstand high levels of heat. This very characteristic is why you shouldn't dispose of these items in the glass bin, but in the unsorted waste bin: since they're designed to withstand heat, during the recycling process they don't melt properly with other types of glass and would therefore end up compromising the fusion of the entire material.
4. Glasses
Just like Pyrex, the glasses you use at the table aren't made of the same type of glass and are also treated with chemicals that help them withstand both hot and cold temperatures. Therefore, they won't melt with regular glassware: to dispose of them, you should also throw them in the unsorted waste bin.
5. Mirrors
Mirrors are very special objects because they are made of multiple layers, usually glass bonded to other materials (silver/aluminum), which is why you can't simply throw them in the glass bin when they break. To properly dispose of the mirror, you can throw the smaller fragments in the general waste collection, while for larger fragments, or for large mirrors in general, you will need to go to the municipal waste collection center.
6. Ceramics and Terracotta
Ceramics and terracotta have very high melting points, so they can't be recycled using standard methods but require a special procedure. For this very reason, you can't simply throw them in the glass or unsorted waste: small fragments should go in the unsorted waste, while larger items should be taken to a recycling center, where they will be disposed of using a special procedure.
7. Food Waste Should Not Be Thrown in The Organic Waste Bin
Now let's talk about food waste: did you know that not everything can be thrown in the organic waste bin? Only biodegradable and compostable materials from food scraps or plant residues should go in the organic waste bin. Many things, even if they seem natural, shouldn't end up there. For example, chicken bones, and animal bones in general, degrade very slowly and should therefore be thrown in the unsorted waste bin, unless otherwise specified by your municipality. The same goes for shells, although it depends on the composition of each specific waste item: when it comes to crustaceans and mollusks (mussels, clams, prawns, etc.), it's wrong to throw their scraps in the organic waste bin because their shells are composed primarily of chitin and calcium carbonate and therefore don't degrade easily, which is why they're not suitable for organic waste collection and should be thrown in the unsorted waste bin. Eggshells and dried fruit shells, however, are a different matter. They are completely biodegradable and can therefore be disposed of in the organic waste bin. Finally, it's always good to remember that used cooking oil should never be thrown down the sink, much less the toilet. If dirty, it should be filtered and collected in a container that should be taken to the nearest collection center, from where it will then be taken to specialized centers for special disposal.
Where You Should Throw Away Special Waste
In addition to the list of items we've listed, there's a whole series of wastes generally known as special waste: in our case, the domestic sphere, these are materials produced in homes that, due to their size, hazardous nature, or nature, cannot be disposed of in standard recycling bins. This waste requires specific disposal procedures (such as disposal at recycling centers or collection centers) to avoid environmental pollution. The best-known special waste is WEEE, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (refrigerators, washing machines, ovens, televisions, computers, printers, cell phones, household appliances, etc.), but this category also includes any items that may contain harmful, toxic, or flammable substances.
1. Small and Large Appliances
From the blender to the microwave, to the refrigerator and washing machine, the kitchen is full of appliances that, like all electronic devices, could break down at some point. While we assume they should never be abandoned, we remind you that any appliance, even the smallest ones, should never be thrown in the unsorted waste but should always be taken to the municipal collection center. Because they are not biodegradable, have motors, and often contain substances that are toxic to the environment, incorrectly disposed of appliances cause enormous pollution. If taken to collection centers, they are then taken to facilities where they are dismantled and many of their components are recovered and sent for recycling. Smaller appliances can be brought to the collection center on their own, while bulkier ones are usually collected by appointment or on specific days.
2. Light Bulbs
LED and fluorescent light bulbs cannot be disposed of in the unsorted waste because they contain toxic substances, primarily mercury in low-energy and fluorescent models, and complex electronic components. For these items, as well as for WEEE, you should seek out a recycling center or green island: throwing them in the unsorted waste would cause serious environmental damage.
3. Batteries
Used batteries and accumulators must be disposed of in appropriate separate containers primarily because they are classified as hazardous and polluting waste. They contain heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead, nickel, and lithium, which, if they end up in landfills or in the environment, can seriously pollute soil and groundwater. Furthermore, they are also flammable materials that, during transport or when treated as unsorted waste, can become damaged, overheat, or short-circuit, causing fires in waste disposal facilities and endangering worker safety. For this reason, batteries should be disposed of in appropriate containers, usually located near supermarkets, electronics stores, or municipal collection centers. If disposed of correctly, they can also become a resource, as some of the materials they contain can be recovered and reused, reducing the need to extract new raw materials.
4. Drugs and Medicines
Expired or unused medications must be disposed of separately, in the designated white containers outside drug stores or at recycling centers, because they are considered hazardous products: first of all, they can harm the environment, as they contain chemical compounds that could contaminate soil and groundwater. They can also be ingested by animals, compromising their health. Furthermore, they could be accidentally or illegally recovered, becoming a hazard. Precisely because of the risks they pose, medications collected from designated containers are burned in incinerators at very high temperatures to safely eliminate the active ingredients, a process different from normal recycling or unsorted disposal.
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