Why Do People Not Recycle?

It’s no secret that some people don’t recycle. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the recycling rate in the U.S. is 32%¹. Globally, we only recycle 9% of our plastic waste². There are various reasons why people don’t recycle. But whatever the reason may be, it’s important to remember that recycling is one of the most effective ways we can reduce our impact on the planet.

So let’s examine why people do not recycle and how we can build zero-waste, high-recycling communities.

7 Reasons Why People Do Not Recycle

1. Lack of knowledge or understanding about what can and cannot be recycled.

Sometimes, people don't recycle because of a lack of knowledge or understanding about what can and cannot be recycled. 

Many items that can be recycled, such as plastic containers and paper products, are only sometimes labeled correctly. This means that a person may think they are throwing away an unusable item when they could recycle it. It is important to learn what items can be recycled and for manufacturers to properly label the different types of plastic waste and others so that we can separate recyclables from trash.

2. Not aware of recycling benefits.

Some people may need to be aware of the numerous benefits of recycling. For example, recycling can help reduce the waste stream, conserve natural resources, and create new products and jobs. Educating people about the recycling facts, these benefits, and why recycling is important can encourage people to start.

3. Not having access to a recycling bin or location.

In some places, it is hard to access a bin or find a location to drop off recyclables. This can lead people to simply opt out of the process altogether. To make sure everyone has the opportunity to recycle, municipalities and businesses need to provide convenient access to locations where people can responsibly dispose of materials.

4. Costs associated with recycling, such as transportation and processing fees.

In some cases, there are costs associated with recycling efforts that may make it prohibitive for individuals or businesses to engage in. For example, many cities have transportation and processing fees associated with collecting and sorting recyclables. This is further exacerbated by the fact that some countries buy waste from others, adding to the environmental and human costs associated with shipping and processing to the recycling process. 

To encourage people to recycle these costs need to be kept low or eliminated to encourage people to recycle.

5. Lack of concern about the environment.

For some people, recycling may not be a priority due to their lack of concern about the environment or their lack of understanding of how important it is to reduce waste and conserve natural resources. Education is key here - the more we inform people about the importance of recycling and its positive impacts on our planet, the more likely it will be for them to become more conscious about their consumption habits.

Related: How does recycling help climate change?

6. Concerns about the environmental impact of recycling.

On the other hand, some people don't recycle because they are concerned about the environment. Some people may be concerned about the environmental impacts of recycling, such as the energy and resources used in the process. 

While it is true that recycling does use resources, it is still considered to be more sustainable than making new products from raw materials. In addition, many modern facilities are designed with sustainability in mind and use renewable energy sources for power.

7. Laziness or apathy.

Some consider the effort required to sort and separate recyclables as too much of a hassle. This can lead to apathy or even laziness when it comes to recycling. Sometimes it is easier when out and about to drop empty plastic bottles in the nearest bin rather than seek out a recycling one. To combat this, we need to ensure that everyone has easy access to recycling bins and that the process is as quick and straightforward as possible.

How to Encourage Recycling

Governments have the most responsibility to encourage their citizens to recycle. By creating access, incentives, and laws and regulations that make it easier for people to recycle, governments can help reduce waste in landfills. And also support people trying to build a zero-waste lifestyle.

One of the most effective ways for governments to see increased recycling is to provide citizens with access to convenient, centralized collection points. The government should subsidize the installation and operation of these centers to make them more accessible.

Incentives such as tax credits or rebates can encourage individuals, businesses, and organizations to recycle. These incentives can range from monetary payments for each item recycled to discounts on utility bills or other services.

Each government should also have a federal recycling program and consider enacting laws and regulations that promote recycling in their countries. This could include mandatory recycling programs and restrictions on certain materials that cannot be disposed of in landfills.

The potential for policy to positively impact recycling rates is proven in some of the countries with the best recycling rates and those taking zero-waste approaches to resource management.  

In Australia, for example, the government takes a comprehensive approach to encouraging recycling and reducing waste. The country has implemented legislation such as the Waste Management and Resources Recovery Act and the National Waste Policy, which set a framework for governments and organizations to reduce waste output. This includes setting targets for waste reduction and promoting resource recovery initiatives through incentives.

We can also make smaller efforts on the individual and group level to encourage people to recycle correctly. Both in our homes and in our communities.

Start a Recycling Culture at Home

Educate yourself and your family on the benefits of recycling.

The more informed each person is, the easier for them to build an eco-friendly lifestyle and progress to sustainable living. Start by identifying the recyclable items in your home and create designated bins for each type of waste. Ensure everyone has access to these containers and knows how to use them properly. This will help maintain an organized system and reduce the contamination of recyclable materials.

To get started, read up on our 20 recycling tips for effective recycling at home. 

Use fewer disposable items and switch to reusable alternatives whenever possible.

Whereas recycling is typically better than requiring new virgin materials, the principles of the 4RS - Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle point to a holistic approach of ensuring we use less to start with. 

Disposable items, such as plastic bags, utensils, and straws, are used only once before being disposed of. While recycling is an integral part of reducing waste, it is not a solution to the problem of single-use plastics.

Plastics are one of the most common types of waste and some of the most difficult to recycle. To be recycled, plastics must be clean and free of contaminants. This often requires special processing facilities that are only available in some areas.

In addition, plastic recycling is only sometimes economically feasible. The cost of sorting and cleaning recyclable plastic can be high, and the market for recycled plastic is often uncertain. As a result, many recyclers will only accept plastic if it is free from contaminants.

Therefore, the better approach is to adopt a zero-waste culture, seek out zero-waste products, and avoid disposable items as much as possible, so you don't have to worry about them being recycle-worthy.

Educate yourself on what can and cannot be recycled in your area.

Not all materials can be recycled, and different recycling programs may have different rules about what is acceptable. Check with your local waste management authority to find out what materials are accepted in the area.

Additionally, you should always ensure that any materials you recycle are clean and free from contaminants. Contaminated materials can affect an entire batch of recyclables and make them unusable.

Some of our more popular recycling guides for items you may not be sure about include:

• Can you recycle paper towels?
• Are garbage bags recyclable?
• Is polystyrene recyclable?
• Can you recycle plant pots?
• How to recycle your old clothes

Set out your well-labeled recycling bins.

This will help avoid confusion and make it easier for everyone to know what can and cannot be recycled. Label each bin with the materials that are accepted in that particular container.

You should also place your recycling bins near other waste containers, such as garbage cans and organic waste compost bins, so they are easy to find and use. Finally, ensure that each bin is large enough to hold the number of recyclables you generate.

Remember to recycle yourself and model good behavior for your family.

Lead by example and ensure that you follow the same recycling rules you expect your family to follow. This will help ensure that everyone is doing their part in creating less waste.

Finally, don't forget to thank those who recycle responsibly! Celebrate progress and stay positive! Encouragement and positive reinforcement can go a long way in helping to create lasting patterns of responsible waste management.

Make recycling fun and reward your family for their efforts.

Games and prizes might be a great approach if you have small children. Create a game of recycling or start a competition between household members to see who can recycle the most. Give out prizes for those who participate, make it an enjoyable experience, and make visible progress in building a more eco-friendly life.

Purchase products from recycled materials when possible.

By choosing recycled material when shopping, you are helping close the recycling loop and ensuring that resources are used sustainably. You should aim to shop zero-waste; don’t buy plastic water bottles or plastic straws because you plan to offset it by recycling. 

Start a Recycling Culture in Your Community.

If you want to see recycling in your community, you must become part of the work that gets the community there. Here are some ways you can contribute:

Support local initiatives that promote recycling.

Many communities have recycling programs in place, but most can do more to increase the number of recyclable materials collected.

One way to improve recycling rates is to support local initiatives with a very active grassroots network. These initiatives can include public education campaigns, special events, and even financial incentives for residents who recycle.

By supporting these initiatives, you can raise awareness about the benefits of recycling and encourage more people to participate. In addition, you can help get new or improved recycling facilities installed in your area.

You don't have to wait for your community or country-wide recycling program to be perfect before taking action; start small and think globally while acting locally. Every little bit helps, and every person who takes steps toward reducing waste makes a difference.

Related: Communities going plastic-free 

Organize clean-up days in your community to pick up litter.

If you notice a lot of litter in your community that is recycling items, you can start by organizing clean-up days in your community. This involves gathering a group of people to pick up litter from a designated area. Not only will this help prevent environmental decline, but it will also help recycle some of the litter accumulating.

If you're interested in organizing a clean-up day in your community, here are some tips to get communal effort:

• Choose an area that needs attention. Many places in your community could use a little extra TLC, so choose an area that is important to you or particularly affected by littering.
• Recruit volunteers. It's important to have a good turnout for clean-up days, so reach out to your friends, family members, and neighbors and ask for significant commitment. You can also post about it online or put up flyers around town.
• Plan ahead. Make sure you have all the supplies you'll need for the day beforehand, such as gloves, bags, and tongs. You can also contact your local waste management facility to see if they have any extra supplies you can borrow or use.
• Have fun! Clean-up days are a great way to get involved in your community and make a difference. So remember to enjoy yourself while helping out the environment.

Educate others on the importance of recycling.

Even if you don’t have a lot of time, there are many ways that you can educate others on the importance of recycling, adopting a zero-waste mindset, and creating less waste. You can talk to people one-on-one, write articles or blog posts about it, or create social media posts highlighting the benefits of recycling. You could even organize a presentation or workshop on recycling for your local community group or school. To help people understand its importance, you might find our article on what would happen if people stopped recycling useful.

No matter what approach you take, educating others on recycling is a great way to make a difference in your community and help protect our environment.

Encourage businesses and restaurants to reduce their single-use plastics.

To reduce the amount of plastic waste that is produced each year, businesses and restaurants need to reduce their use of single-use plastics. This includes takeout containers, plastic bags, plastic straws, and other plastics. Cooperation from such organizations is pivotal to getting low-recycling communities to become more environmentally responsible.

Here are some ways that local businesses and restaurants can do this:

• Switch to biodegradable materials. Many types of biodegradable materials can be used in place of single-use plastics, such as reusable straws, compostable plates and cups, and beeswax food wraps. When these items are no longer needed, they become compostable organic waste instead of increasing demand for landfill use.
• Use reusable food containers. Many businesses and restaurants are now switching to reusable containers and utensils, which can be washed and reused multiple times.
• Provide incentives for customers who bring their own containers. Businesses and restaurants can offer discounts or other incentives to customers who bring their own reusable containers when they purchase food or drinks.
• Use recycled materials to support the recycling industry and help each customer live a greener life. 

Volunteer at a local reuse center or recycling center.

If you're interested in volunteering at local recycling centers or recycling facilities, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Contact your local waste disposal service providers to see if they need volunteers. Many waste management facilities rely on volunteers to help with tasks such as sorting materials, cleaning up the facility, and educating others on the importance of recycling.
• Ask about training requirements. Most waste management facilities will require volunteers to attend a training session before they can start working. This is important so that you can learn how to sort and recycle different types of materials properly.
• Be prepared for some manual labor. Many reuse centers and recycling facilities involve a lot of manual labor, so be prepared to do some heavy lifting and carrying.
• Have fun! Volunteering at a local reuse center or recycling facility is a great way to make a difference and help protect our environment.

Conclusion

If we want to make a difference and save our planet, recycling is something that everyone should be doing. It's important to understand why people don't recycle so we can work on overcoming those barriers. Once we start recycling ourselves and build a more eco-friendly life, we can encourage others to do the same. Let's all work together to make our world a better place!