Why you're recycling wrong

[@voscra]

How about we start teaching in school what is recyclable and what isn't?

[@TheKiroshi]

NO! YOU MUST LEARN MATH AND HOW TO DO IT MY WAY. Focus on your accounting career and you wont have to care about money!

[@nexus1g]

Because it changes and varies.

[@chrishainjayalath1015]

Schools aren’t meant to teach real stuff

[@nexus1g]

@@chrishainjayalath1015 What do you think they teach if not "real stuff"?

[@s4098429]

By the time kids graduate from school the list of what can and can't be recycled will have changed.

[@aaronjenkin]

Recycling isn't the solution. Please opt for reusable or low packaging items as much as possible.

[@NunoTiagoMartins]

It's A solution, not THE solution, remember the 4R's: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

[@nqh4393]

Recycling isn't the ONLY* solution.

[@jason200912]

No, bio degradable everything is the way to go....especually with trash bags

[@kevinheckeler]

Producers need to take more responsibility to package in recyclable materials. Consumers need to demand it of the producers.

[@Lycaon1765]

Or we can combine them, like we're already told to...

[@thesofakillers]

or just dont buy a tea every morning and use a thermos

[@6ig6pAT]

exacly!

[@jwebes]

Honestly don't understand people who buy hot drinks everyday when they know they're going to get one. You can make your own coffee or tea for like $0.25, why would you pay $1 to $2 every day that adds up fast.

[@bugsyplays3560]

Coffee shops should allow you to bring your own cup/thermos too, if they don't already.

[@ACC-2929]

BugsyPlays they do, like Starbucks does, put people are just LAZY.

[@williamnjagi2388]

Advocate for reusable cups and put some incentives to stick with the same cup..

[@Faustobellissimo]

I find it so stupid that packaging companies aren't obliged by law to write the recycling destination on every packaging item.

[@user-qo7ul3wm1g]

Fausto Levantesi recycling is stupid

[@dimiathan]

@@user-qo7ul3wm1g Some people don't want to destroy the planet and live like leeches on it

[@krokodyl1927]

I agree.

[@dimiathan]

@Joe Green The point isn't just the planet. Of course it will be fine. The point is to secure a future for our children. A future where we co-exist with nature and we don't rape mother Earth like we do now

[@---GOD---]

True. A lot will say that it's made from recycled material but don't tell you if it can be recycled or not after you're done with it.

[@shoo-sho-sha]

The burden of recycling should also be on the company that sold you the item as well.

[@gerANNAmoe]

Yes! Coca Cola had an excellent recycling rate when it provided destinations for people to drop off their bottles. Now they just blame the consumer.

[@slave2truth4freedom]

The government needs to stop subsidizing private companies as a whole, but this is as good a place as any to start.

[@iainwalsh]

Kevin O'Brien the company isn’t responsible for what you do they are not you’re babysitter

[@Nicholas-f5]

Producer responsibility, exactly!

[@msslilyofgoldenia]

The Corporations are Gods ... you are the one that bought the plastic .. you are to blame ^.^

[@upbeat_garbage0308]

Hang on? People think you can recycle used nappies? 😳🤮 I feel bad for those workers who have to hand sort the rubbish, that’s disgusting

[@FireRupee]

Yeah, seriously. Who's out there, thinking, "This baby poop could be a book one day"?

[@brandchan]

Yeah, that one I am at a loss for in so many ways.

[@upbeat_garbage0308]

I don’t get it. You’re told you can’t recycle items that have food left in them but then they think a used nappy is ok 🧐

[@BinaryDragon]

No, they don't. The problem is that in Portland we only have trash pickup every other week (and by default only a 30 gallon can), but recycling is still every week (by default a 65 gallon can). Desperate parents thus end up throwing their trash in the recycling due to this system, not because they think that it actually is the right place to put them.

[@FireRupee]

@@BinaryDragon Good to know. That doesn't sound like a very good system.

[@ChuckN914]

Didn't talk enough about what is actually recyclable 🙄

[@PaladinGuy]

The problem is that it varies from location to location, even county by county.

[@---GOD---]

@@PaladinGuy It's almost as if the guy didn't even watch the video lol

[@turtle4llama]

Literally mentioned at the beginning that it varies by municipality

[@MICHGO1]

IN LIES THE PROBLEM. MAYBE THE MUNICIPALITIES WHO DO THE SORTING NEED TO STEP UP THEIR GAME IF THEY ARE SERIOUS.

[@SuperNerd528]

It varies so much that the rules and guidelines for how you recycle at home can be different from your work. Because there are so many different waste management companies. And they have their own facilities. Some of them work together some of them don't. I worked in the waste industry for 2 years.

[@aaronjenkin]

Use reusable items as much as possible. Thank you.

[@RNCHFND]

But Marie Kondo told me to throw it away!!

[@tsrenis]

Actually for some items wasting money on a reusable item that you'll only use once or twice enlarges your environmental footprint

[@Christine-jk3hh]

@@tsrenis "as much as possible" means investing in items you will use. i have a reusable utensil kit, menstrual products, shopping bags, coffee cup, and water bottle. but i'd never invest in reusable items i would not use, and wouldnt recommend it to anyone either. although it wouldn't necessarily "increase" your carbon footprint, it is still wasteful.

[@mechengr1731]

@@Christine-jk3hh what kind of menstrual products? I've been trying to reduce my environmental impact, but the best options I've seen are cups, underwear, and reusable pads. None of which are practical for me

[@NickyThanksYou]

The plastic coffee cup lid (most likely) has a recycling symbol on it. The cup is trash, separate the lid and you are good.

[@AisuruMirai]

Most things like those, though, are #3, 5, 6, or 7 plastics, which are recyclable almost nowhere. In years past, these plastics were collected by some municipalities and then sold, eventually making their way to China, where the recycling was done. But China recently stopped buying these plastics, so they have basically no value, and recycling anything but #1 and #2 plastics isn't cost effective anymore.

[@spieletipps2010]

This only applies to light-colored lids. Black lids are always garbage. This is due to the fact, that the near-infrared-scanners used in MRF's to differenciate between different types of plastics, don't recognize black plastics, since they don't reflect any light.

[@goosty17]

Just buy a reusable cup AND THEN you are good

[@innocentoctave]

@@spieletipps2010 Black plastic reflects some light. What is likely is that it doesn't reflect enough light at the right wavelengths for these scanners to discriminate between black plastic and other dark-coloured, low-reflectivity materials. Coloured plastics generally may be harder - or less economical - to recycle because of their pigment content.

[@ElliePetrova24]

What’s wrong with the cardboard cup?

[@_immi]

my opinion is that the responsibility of recycling should move more towards the companies producing the waste. Instead of having to put more effort and money into getting rid of the waste, the companies would hopefully start producing more easily recyclable products. It would shift the blame? responsibility??(idk english is hard) from customers to the manufacturers.

[@BaBboonking]

This makes perfect sense,I forgot where I heard it but they launched a campaign to shift the burden on the consumers instead making corporations accountable for the waste they help produce

[@bobbybenjamin6864]

@@BaBboonking Was it an Adam Ruins Everything episode? It sounds like something he would do. I'm pretty sure I heard the same thing.

[@LarryOfilms]

Bobby Benjamin yeah he did. He said corporations produced marketing campaigns that encouraged consumers to do their part so the responsibility and blame shifts to us and not them.

[@MissS1989]

The words you chose to use are correct. Your English is great!!! 😁

[@krismichael1633]

It's a great idea but the problem is that the companies will raise their prices. In the end the consumer always has to take the bill.

[@Pixelmonkeyman]

Jesus Vox am I doing anything right?

[@shubhamjain2099]

Give this man a cookie

[@abdurashidnurmukhamedov2011]

Vox would say that you are asking the wrong question.

[@penguin9941]

You sin like an acute triangle

[@Sannidor]

Let's start from the original sin - emitting CO2 by breathing air.

[@RambO5018]

it should be printed on any kind of packaging or stuff whether its recyclable or not. End of confusion right there.

[@jaridkeen123]

It's sad bc this is easily fixable, just put the symbol on anything that we can recycle

[@Sivah_Akash]

Maybe because some items are recyclable in some places and not in others. But yes, things like pizza boxes could have instructions in them that if they are not greased they can be recycled.

[@meaganmackenzie5068]

Where I am (Montreal, Quebec), what is recyclable is determined by the market (i.e. can we find a buying for our product?). In our case, plastics 1-5 & 7 (i.e. everything but number 6) is recyclable. While #6 can be recycled, it's too expensive here. Best course of action is to look up your local recycling program

[@siddhantdeepful]

Should every physical item by law have a symbol which states wether its recyclable or not?

[@brandchan]

That is somewhat helpful but depending where you live they still might not take that recyclable item. Like a lot of styrofoam can be recycled but a lot of areas don't take it.

[@dwfidler]

Most items in the US do have a symbol on it that specifies whether it is recyclable, however US municipalities all have different recycling companies that don't recycle everything that is technically recyclable. So the confusion isn't with the product, but the local recycling rules.

[@lunayen]

Would be nice, but most don't have these labels. Specially if they're imported from countries without waste management.

[@SomethingSimpler]

Rules change depending on where you are. You can recycle styrofoam in some places but not in others. I lived in one town that took Pizza boxes and another that didn't.

[@wigoow1206]

Germany has such a system called "Grüner Punkt" (green dot) and it works like a charm.

[@AlexandreMutti]

It bugs me how educational content about recycling is scarce. It should be in schools, on TV, everywhere.

[@Nicholas-f5]

Ask your schools and cities!

[@Freakyjohnsson1]

America seem to have the wierdest way of recycling.

[@adam-t]

In our defense, we do everything backwards.

[@givememore4free]

We actually did recycle everything differently years back. We separated paper, plastic, Etc. But the thing is most of the stuff that goes to the recycling center actually doesn't get recycled. It's not America's fault. So stop bashing America.

[@adam-t]

@@givememore4free Lighten up! It isn't like it's the end of the world or anything... oh, wait. Also, you do realize that the recycling centers you are complaining about are in America, right? We sent a man to the moon, but somehow can't figure out simple waste sorting procedures. Not really sure who else you think should be responsible if not us.

[@jdredman]

@@adam-t Tell her

[@alquinn8576]

it's actually the best way to recycle because it is faster than pre-sorting and you still achieve the same level of virtue-signalling

[@thesiiiiickest]

I liked the video... but youre not gonna use this opportunity to show people HOW to recycle correctly??

[@Vox]

I wish I could have, the siiiiickest. The challenge is that the rules are different everywhere. If you want to recycle correctly, look up the rules for your neighborhood recycling program and focus on putting items in the recycling bin that are both dry and clean. (-Ellen)

[@thesiiiiickest]

@@Vox Gotcha! Thanks for the clarification

[@adagioborntrager4456]

Vox has some other videos on this topic, and KZbin has thousands. The purpose is to make you aware of the issue, but it’s up to the viewer and consumer to take responsibility and research on their own 🙌

[@amandaacosta4388]

Well couldn’t you at least tell us a list of things that are NEVER recyclable? And then say, “for other items, please check your local regulations”.

[@TeamTwiistz]

It would’ve been helpful to include a list of everyday items that can be recycled.

[@meaganmackenzie5068]

The problem is that what is and isn't recyclable varies by municipality. Best course of action is to go online and grab a "cheat sheet" from your area.

[@99temporal]

most helpful advice is "if food touches it, it probably isn't recyclable"

[@Sarahlenea]

maybe the solution is to produce much less waste? Why on earth buy a single use coffee cup??

[@Nicholas-f5]

People are trashy.

[@safiyarani4448]

@@Nicholas-f5 oef nice pun.

[@michaelgogick8869]

Or we could just implement Germany's recycling.

[@NickyThanksYou]

Michael Gogick what this guy said

[@dwarez]

can you specify? What's the difference between Germany's recycling and USA's?

[@gamergod9182]

@@dwarez we presort everything: paper, glass, plastics, biodegradable, and trash. everything has it's own bin or a large container for public use. we even presort our glass by color.

[@kevini15]

DWarez german Households sort their trash into paper, plastic, organic waste, and “Restmüll” meaning everything else. There’s also a pickup day for “special trash”/harmful waste (not sure what belongs in it)

[@anonym4566]

Michael Gogick we do that in Sweden as well, we sort everything

[@LiL_Miss_Fiasco]

American recycling system is literally trash. When I lived in Japan it was stricter, but also way more clear what can be recycled.

[@uss_04]

Those Amazon Bubble Wrap mailers are so nice to receive, but so bad in a recycling sense. I keep them when i need to mail something back (Reuse)

[@AisuruMirai]

I hate those things because they're not recyclable and I never have a reason to use them. I recently threw away a stack of about 20 of them that I had sitting on a shelf.

[@uss_04]

AisuruMirai Would be nice if the bubble wrap was either seperatable, or made of compostable cellulose.

[@allluckyseven]

It would be great if people could take bubble wrap to some place for it to be reused if they won't reuse it. I have some at home and have used, but there's plenty here for some years, I think... So in the same way there are places with bins for your used batteries, there could be one for bubble wrap and other reusable things.

[@DingXiaoke]

Totally. They should make it either all plastic or not glued together. The labels are also so hard to remove

[@adam-t]

FWIW, the bubble wrap packs that are fully plastic can usually be recycled in the blue bin outside your local grocery store. The same place where you should bring plastic grocery bags, ziploc bags, many shrinkwraps, etc. The paper/plastic composite bubble wrap packs are pure trash though.

[@imacg5]

Pre-sort is definitely better than single-stream recycle. Human beings need clear and specific instructions when doing chores. It's not a piece of art, just tell me exactly what I need to do so I can follow orders. I want to save my energy for things more interesting.

[@supersmasher246]

I used to work at an outdoor recycling centre. Most people are so surprised, when you tell them that some of their waste; can't actually be recycled.

[@davidgutierrez-aguirre4807]

Can't be recycled is another way of saying we don't want to deal with it. Literally everything can be recycled or composted

[@adam-t]

@@davidgutierrez-aguirre4807 You are very wrong.

[@supersmasher246]

@@davidgutierrez-aguirre4807 You have come to a video telling you about this- it is like commenting "Vaccines still cause Autism" on video that debunks it.

[@Minkjaah]

Could you mention a couple of the most common things that can't be recycled so i don't make that mistake?

[@SophieSeno]

@@Minkjaah tetrapacks for example-they contain cardboard with plastic that cant be separated so it cant be sorted to be recycled but most people think its just cardboard

[@Sellsor]

You really should have told us what things weren't recyclable that we common think are

[@SaharBaghaii]

The video mentioned that it varies based on municipality. For example, the coffee cup lid could be recycled in NYC. It should be on your municipal waste companies website. But pizza boxes and coffee cups are two things people think they can recycle, but they usually can't. Coffee cups because the cup is plastic coated paper. Pizza boxes because of the pizza grease. Other things you typically can't recycle in your residential recycling are paper towels and flexible plastic (ex. plastic bags). You should also avoid putting compostable utensils in plastic recycling. Usually, they say they are compostable on the back of the handle. Even if you recycle, you should also use less. Don't take plastic utensils if you are taking food somewhere you have access to metal utensils. Don't take a bag if you are carrying your food or drink from the store to your home/office/school where you will immediately throw out the bag and eat the food or drink.

[@adagioborntrager4456]

Vox has some other videos on this topic, and KZbin has thousands. The purpose is to make you aware of the issue, but it’s up to the viewer and consumer to take responsibility and research on their own 🙌

[@lvl100boss85]

>watches the video *Recycles wrong again*

[@rileymiller7786]

Lvl 100 Boss Woah reckless!

[@MRTN13]

Recycling is a lvl200 achievement

[@adam-t]

It would be helpful if we standardized recycling rules. Some manufacturers will improperly label things which MAY be recyclable as if they definitely are recyclable. It isn't always accurate. We might also consider identifying and levying fines on offenders. People will regularly throw things into recycling when they clearly don't belong there. Soiled diapers are a common offense. Seriously people, are you trying to destroy the planet?!

[@aurora7554]

My school actually have a bin for each cardboard & papers, general waste, recyclables and organics! Problems solved???

[@user-bg7ef4ns4v]

Yup. Germany has (for every household) one bin for paper etc., one for plastic, cans etc. (except most for beverages), one for bio and one for the rest

[@aurora7554]

Adresse Ralf Ingo Circa Holzmann Oh wow! In Australia, we still only have one for general waste, one for recyclable and one for plants for each household! Our school introduced two new bins this week which is organic and cardboards papers just to separate it from the general and recyclable bins in order to solve the problem which is described in this video!

[@user-bg7ef4ns4v]

チビ There’s Bottle deposit and glass containers as well and still the Germans aren’t even happy with that. Many people rethink about it, because it’s still thrown away. So many start to try to up-cycle, since most of the “recycling” facilities just burn a lot of the trash - and it even counts as thermal “recycling”.

[@cheydinal5401]

Yes, that's exactly what we also do in Germany and it's not that hard to be honest

[@brandchan]

The problem is that before single stream recycling it was hard to get Americans to recycle at all.

[@OurChangingClimate]

Damn.... I literally just finished making a video about recycling that I'm going to upload on Friday, and Vox has to go and make better one :/

[@wingman358]

They left a lot out of this video - what actually is and is not recyclable? And why? Also, how is it that the consumers are expected to know exactly what's recyclable? Seems like the responsibility should be on the people who actually do the recycling. They have to sort and clean the stuff anyways, and it's unrealistic to believe that the raw recyclables coming in will ever be 100% perfectly uncontaminated. This seems like an industry issue that they're trying to offload on to consumers.

[@HungryLoki]

@@wingman358 @@wingman358 I think they omitted it because there's just too many differences depending on your state or county, which would make such a video simply too long. As to how to know what's recyclable an what's not, you just have to inform yourself. I don't know how it's in the states, but where I'm from, the local government provides guidelines on their website and food packaging is usually labelled accordingly. But even with all that, there are still idiots that insist you need to throw glass into regular trash to fuel the incinerator 🙄 so there's just no perfect solution.

[@JonatanNoponen]

TIL that americans only have one recycling bin. In Finland (and, judging by the comments, most Europe), we sort the trash ourselves into plastic, cardboard, paper etcetera.

[@givememore4free]

Actually we used to recycle everything differently. We did sort paper, plastic Etc. Maybe you shouldn't talk before you know. Just saying. But then again you're just an idiot wanting to bash on America.

[@JonatanNoponen]

givememore4free It’s a fun hobby.

[@JonatanNoponen]

@@givememore4free Also, why'd you stop doing that?

[@jdredman]

I see what @givememore4free is doing: Anyone who mentions they’re from another country, he goes on and accuses them of “bashing America”. You don’t believe me, check the other comments on this video.

[@givememore4free]

@@jdredman I actually like America. I'm born and raised here in America is a great place to live. My husband would love to be a citizen here. It's really not easy to become a citizen. Especially now that Trump is in the office. So why not defend my country?

[@santrojas8950]

It would have great if the video explained why actually a lot of things that seem recyclable, actually aren't.

[@mxk9374]

Most of them aren't purely cardboard/glass/paper. They are contaminated with other substances such as plastic in the case of the cup and the grease on the pizza box

[@mechengr1731]

@@mxk9374 a lot of cardboards are coated to make them water resistant apparently, and some cardboard is actually paperboard

[@NewbyTon]

When you have to decide if your rubbish is recyclable or not _The hardest choices require the strongest of wills_

[@magicreborn3720]

Baljit looks like I am following you

[@bloodymary9404]

Where I live in the US they do teach kids in school what to recycle and what not to recycle like you can recycle plastic drink bottles but not the caps. You also need to read the bottom of the plastic container to see if the number is recyclable. The labels on the recycle bins also tell you what numbers you can recycle. Our major problems come from kids not paying attention and adults not caring.

[@JPzizou]

Really, big companies should produce goods in recyclable materials. They are the biggest contributors to waste

[@diegomesa2337]

can you guys add sources to the description to find correct education on recycling?

[@MICHGO1]

RIGHT?

[@regularuser]

Recycling rules differ from state to state and county to county

[@cheydinal5401]

Multiple-stream recycling is the way to go, we have it in Germany and it's not that hard.

[@bobchris9423]

I have experience in this field It boils down to money

[@cheydinal5401]

@@bobchris9423 I would have guessed so, but I wasn't entirely sure which industry benefits from that

[@givememore4free]

Anyone can sort their garbage. It's really not that hard. The thing is most of your recycling doesn't actually get recycled. That's just facts. Mostly their recycling plastic bottles and maybe glass bottles. Not that much paper actually gets recycled. You just have a false sense of security thinking that you're actually helping the planet.

[@cheydinal5401]

@@givememore4free Is paper still not being recycled even if you put paper and cardboard into a separate bin?

[@givememore4free]

@@cheydinal5401 honestly most recycling places throw out more than half of what is collected. And that is the same in every country. Just because you have to separate into five or six different categories doesn't mean that they're using all the stuff that you want to recycle. Recycling paper is not really cost efficient, and makes pollution. So you're really having a false sense of saving the planet.

[@nawafabdullah4737]

I usually face aspiration recycling because I often deal with things like paper towel or plastics then I don't know where I put it.

[@ethan.colorado]

Well it's Broward county. It's Florida's Florida.

[@safir2241]

As someone from Broward... I’m deeply in agreement

[@tsarrite]

I was waiting for the next part of the video to show us what we can and cannot.

[@ChinmayJade]

My roommate just trashes everything! Boils my blood!

[@CalLadyQED]

That may be your best bet.

[@Bertha-Bryant]

This video prompted me to google my local recycling rules and I found a very good and clear site by the city's waste management authority. Thanks! One thing I found was that the rules around plastic and cardboard packaging had changed significantly 4 years ago, due to the operation of a new waste-to-energy plant.

[@lindsaynerad5450]

Remember to bring your reusable mug to the coffee shop. Then there's no recycling confusion. 😄

[@thefungusrat]

Since reading up more on what is and isn't recyclable in my area, I've started to feel a lot more aware of what kinds of waste I need to reduce/avoid in the first place!

[@amapparatistkwabena]

First: REDUCE, REUSE--then at the end, RECYCLE! ♻️

[@jamieism]

The problem isn’t with people trying to recycle “unrecyclables.” The problem is with cities not recycling everything. Everything can be recycled or composted or reused somehow, and cities need to be held accountable for providing ALL of those methods. Don’t pass the blame to citizens. Step up, cities, AS YOU SHOULD.

[@tobiasbrohl5958]

Its funny to watch a vid about such "childish" stuff as a german

[@tomboz777]

Bad German accent: "Das iz gud Schadenfreude"

[@cancerchristine929]

Lmao Germany goes overboard, we’re worried about how stupid our president is

[@vtheteenagewitch]

Reduce ➖ Reuse 🧂 and Recycle ♻️

[@claudiaandjan]

It was a great video! Recycling is very important. But it is also important to be aware of the garbage we generate. For instance, instead of using a plastic cup every time we go to Starbucks, bring your own! Or if you go to the grocery store, bring your own textile bags to carry the goods. It looks like small things to do, but they have big impact!

[@joaquimmelo6202]

In a perfect world we wouldn't need to recycle, because no residues would be produced in the first place

[@kelseyjanelle99]

And this is exactly why I'm watching this (and other videos) being that I'm in Broward. Very helpful!!

[@kgw72]

You use a single recycle bin? We got four bins! Normal trash, packing (plastics), glass, paper. And recently we added another one for composting trash (more or less, everything that can be turned into organic fertilizer). Seriously, a single recycle bin is (another) waste of resources.

[@biscott1skandinavia519]

I was completely shocked when I saw this was a thing. How people don't know what can be recycled. Here in Sweden, things like this are obvious. Things like paper, dirty packets, diapers and organic waste can obviously not be recycled. In schools, we watch full documentaries about recycling and sorting trash.

[@eruno_]

I thought that is was common knowledge that "cardboard" cups (the ones with plastic inside) are unrecyclable.

[@abhiinair]

Bro, cardboard cups are definitely recyclable. It's only when they are lined with plastic that makes it an annoyance.

[@Mr.O-Town]

@@abhiinair not an annoyance...completely unrecyclable.. just like water bottles.. they are recyclable but the caps and the ring that once sealed the cap are a different plastic and cannot be recycled. The recycling plant won't remove them, they'll just throw the whole bottle out instead because it would take them too long to do it to every bottle

[@aurora7554]

This may be a dumb question, but aren’t cardboards made with “paper”? Sometimes it’s just the stains that makes it useless to recycle! Surely most cardboards can still be downcycled!

[@abhiinair]

@@Mr.O-Town Both are recyclable. It's just that it's an energy intensive process and if not done right, it'll create more pollution.

[@abhiinair]

@@aurora7554 Pure cardboards can be recycled. But the problem here is that sometimes there's plastic mixed in them somewhere and that creates issues later. Like for example a simple Amazon package will have lots of tape stuck to it and people might throw the bubble wraps along with those. In such cases, people also need to be educated. That's all.

[@emptyangel]

One thing I learnt after being put in charge of recycling bins at my office was that NO ONE CAN BE TRUSTED TO SORT THEIR RECYCLING... I would find the weirdest things in the bins. The most common is just general trash in all the recycling bins. Even big blatant labels don't stop people from just chucking their trash into the recycling bins...

[@mechengr1731]

My company pre-covid used to have paper recycling bins around the office. After covid, they seem to have gotten rid of said bins

[@_MemeMachine]

How about the government just airs a 2 minute PSA..? I guess that's too difficult for them...

[@MICHGO1]

GREAT IDEA. SADLY MOST MUNICIPALITIES ARE SORELY DISORGANIZED.

[@toluodimayomi6249]

Another option is to talk with your community recycling management provider to see how contaminated to recycling stream is. For instance, in a meeting with my provider I learned that my community never comes close to approaching the maximum allowable contamination percentage, so they encouraged us to recycle as much as possible regardless of uncertainty.

[@abhiinair]

Dear all of the world, please learn from Sweden. Thank you. 🙏🏼 And I'm not even Swedish. This video could have been more informative. Johnny Harris - I'm sure you can make this cooler. 😀 I'd say Germany comes next here. They are good at this but not as good as Sweden.

[@geoffreyrolinjacquemyns1248]

Because you guys burn your waste ?

[@abhiinair]

@@geoffreyrolinjacquemyns1248 Well, every country has to burn some sort of waste at some level but I'd suggest you look up how they do it. And it's not just recycling really, it's Sustainability at another level. The 3 R's are properly followed. They are also good at 2nd hand shopping which further reduces waste. Look, there are faults everywhere but we need to adopt the best methods we do have right? They reuse most of the stuff, recycle a little more and burn the remaining in the cleanest way possible to produce Electricity. Isn't that just better than burning everything at a landfill?

[@mhetralla]

I live in Japan. When you move here, the city hall gives you a guide to learn how to recycle. It's not easy, it took me some to time to fully understand it. But at least you get to know what is really recyclable or what isnt.

[@mhetralla]

Take a look to the guide from where I live (Edogawa, Tokyo): www.city.edogawa.tokyo.jp/documents/6073/eigoall.pdf

[@888pil]

Dang even when I'm tryin to the right thing I'm doing the wrong thing, I can't win in this world

[@Spangldee]

Yes you can just educate yourself

[@scwirpeo]

@@Spangldee That works, assuming your recycling company doesn't just sell off waste to 3rd world recycling location where it's often more toxic than if it went into a landfill. Rendering your attempt to be a good person null. Go check out where most of the West's E waste goes. It's not actually a good thing. Companies are incapable of choosing the survival of humanity over a few cents.

[@Finkelfunk]

Germany has a presorted recycling system along with other plans to keep recycling in check. Almost all PET and most glas bottles you buy come with a system called "Pfand" , losely translating to "deposit". You pay 25cents more upfront for plastic bottles but get your money back if you bring them back to a supermarket, most of which have special scanners to automate the detection process. Every super market also has a small box for getting rid of old batteries. Other than that there's like 3 or 4 glass containers in our village with 2000 residents. In these containers you separate white, brown and green glas for reuse. Also our other garbage is strictly separated. We separate paper and cartons from plastic, biodegradable materials like fruit and then there's a trashcan for the rest. Ontop of that about twice a year garbage trucks come to pick up old furniture and bulky waste (hence the name "Sperrmüll" literally translsting to that). And if all of that isn't enough for your waste products we have special junkyards for building materials, electronics, chemicals and the like. You can even order them to pick the junk up, although that costs a certain amount. Overall it's a pretty damn good system.

[@pinkskies21]

The plastic lid on that cup of tea is recyclable and should have a logo showing it

[@bitzlibutzli1004]

In Germany: Blue bin: Paper, Cardboard Yellow : Plastic, Metal, Packaging Brown : Ogranic waste Black : everything. (also Batteries are recycled seperatly)

[@colinlin1503]

If you want to become an expert recycler you should download Recycle Rush from the Google Play Store. Its a non-profit game with no Ads and no IAPs. Just recycling.

[@blackkissi]

Wait, Americans throw glass metal and plastic in the same bin? I'd say 95% of European countries sort these in different bins.

[@alex6439]

David Andersson Same thing in some parts of South America. The U.S is backwards.

[@janvanruth3485]

the netherlands does not, we have a separate system for metal and plastic, they both go into a plastic bag that is collected separately free of charge.

[@victrosia]

Nashville isn’t a fair comparison they don’t recycle anything.

[@victrosia]

Steve Gracy and start a recycling campaign..?

[@victrosia]

Steve Gracy nature’s opposites

[@withelisa]

It's a cycle of sorts

[@withelisa]

A cycle during which you lose your shorts

[@scwirpeo]

@@victrosia depending on the age of his "employees" it might be considered recycling.

[@panthamitchell]

I am an elected official for my local government region in Aus, this video has prompted me to ask what our contamination rate is. This is something I previously haven’t considered. Thank you.

[@JtheKproduction]

Do a video on how recycling is done in Korea please!

[@julianplacencia]

Everytime a Vox video starts getting me hooked, it finishes

[@MarkWTK]

@2:12 "we are more likely to throw trash in it" *shows iphone* 😂😂

[@ValerieSaubrement]

Here's for NYC: - The paper cup with waxy lining is recyclable with cardboard, the plastic lid is recyclable. Rinse both - The soiled part of the pizza box is compostable but not recyclable, the clean part is recyclable with cardboard - The paper towel is compostable but not recyclable (soft paper is not recyclable) - The bubble wrap is recyclable in the plastic bag (soft plastic) recycling bin available at the entrance of most supermarkets (soft plastic isn't recyclable via the metal / glass / hard plastic recycling stream)

[@user-ld9hs1mb1u]

It would have been helpful to cover some basics / general rules for properly recycling. 😒

[@allstarwoo4]

Seriously thank you. I'm the person that always that has to pick the trash out of the recyclables. And in our area we also has compost trash which makes it more complicated to some people. Luckily one other coworker and I know how to garden so we know hat we can put in their but we inevitably have to correct some people.

[@joon3900]

Vox is the best :)

[@Dustyamp]

Thank you! I work a closing shift so I have to take out the recycling. So many people think they can just through cups, glasses, and cans of juice and soda in the bins. The bins don't even have waste liners so it ends up causing a huge mess and it's a real pain to sort all of them.

[@MrCal2648]

I know what she's saying in the video but when she trows the coffee cup into the trash it just FEELS wrong.

[@WilliamAndrea]

@@NotAFanOfHandles All good points. The one thing I would add is that the lid might be recyclable since it's all plastic.

[@MrRobotman]

Me: Please, Vox! Tell me what should and shouldn't be recycled. Vox: Just throw your trash away if you don't know. Me: Oh. Oh no.

[@yannpage6769]

Robotman in most places you should be able to recycle : clean&dry paper like office paper, junkmail, paper board like cereal boxes, corrugated card, plastic bottles and jugs, glass bottles and jars and metal packaging like tin and cans. But some places will allow you to recycle more like hard plastic containers, bagged plastic bags, shredded paper, foil etc... always check with your municipality

[@GrinerB]

This is my mom.. She literally puts everything in the recycling bin

[@lunayen]

Time to show your mom this video.

[@marredcheese]

Time for the big sleep.

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

In San Francisco the lid of the cup of tea is recyclable and the paper cup is compostable.

[@Nicholas-f5]

Exactly!

[@TheLingo56]

At the end of the day people will always be stupid. They should rework the system so you can't mess up recycling stuff.

[@commmander64]

Trust me...the most idiot proof system is not idiot proof. What you need to do is a 'idiot' punishing system. That will be the few options that will get results.

[@scwirpeo]

@@commmander64 To fix a rash you treat the rash, you don't itch it till it fixes itself. Start with the companies manufacturing the products.

[@gchie]

I live in Italy and here in every house we have different bins for organic waste, paper, plastic, glass, and then general waste. Also, in the little town where I live there are various days of the week that are assigned to a specific type of trash and you just put your trash bags outside your door and they are collected during that night/day. This last service is only available because I live in a small town, in big cities it would be impossible, but I think basically everywhere in Italy we divide our trash in various bins :)

[@Lilapurple111]

Well, I still don’t k ow what is recyclable and what not. Wished you had gave some examples.

[@FireRupee]

It depends on what is recycled in your area, since not all centers recycle the same things (like different types of plastic). What can be recycled by your local recycling center is probably on your local government's website.

[@ALu-nq8rf]

I'd say call and look up your local recycling center's website. See if they have an infographic or chart.

[@CalLadyQED]

They can't tell you. That's the point

[@zerodefcts]

The video shows a problem some may not be aware of; and it certainly does a great job at explaining why the problem exists. I do think we need to expand this topic further to look at better solutions than just throwing everything somewhat questionable in a landfill for a few lifetimes. I think we can do better than that!

[@travsformation1]

And here I was hoping to get some good pointers on how to better recycle... For a channel devoted to creating informative videos, this one if an ABOMINATION. You have a number of people in the intro who are unsure whether they can recycle specific items or not. You don't answer any of those questions, and conclude with a "When in doubt, throw it out"??? REALLY? You mention the importance of recycling information campaigns...How about using your channel (which has over 5.6 million subscribers) to ACTUALLY PROVIDE SOME RECYCLING EDUCATION?? "Dirty paper towels don't go in the paper bin because they're greasy and can ruin a whole batch of recyclable paper, but they CAN go in the organic bin (in places where these have been implemented), as in specialized treatment plants they can be broken down and, along with other organic matter (food leftovers, etc.), be turned into compost". Or "paper cups can't be recycled as paper because the interior is lined with plastic or fluorochemicals". I could go on, but you get the point... You also could have encouraged the use of re-usable items (mugs, cups, mesh bags for buying fruit and veggies) and biodegradable ones, and discouraged purchasing products unnecessarily packaged in plastic (mushrooms, lettuce, broccoli, fruit, etc.). The environmental awareness potential of this video, considering your viewership, was fantastic. But instead, all you offered was "When in doubt, throw it out". Sad, to say the least...

[@tingummywut]

The problem is that, like the video states, that it varies from place to place. They can't answer for you. What they should have encouraged was to check your local waste management company website for information.

[@dancheb]

@@tingummywut Well show different case scenarios then. Show how its done in Japan, in California and in Denmark and etc. This particularly Vox video was clearly very poorly researched.

[@MrInsdor]

the fact that you guys have some sort of recycling system at all surprises me very postively the fact that this single stream recycling even exists confirms my preconceived notions again though maybe I am privileged having grown up in a country/household where seperating trash is the norm but stuff like that just mesmerizes me youre getting there, USA, I believe in you

[@funnyguy3494]

Yo that's really cool seeing Palm Beach County on there I'm from there and I have heard we have one of the best recycling programs countrywide. #561

[@GamingMuchTerry]

I have been throwing paper towels in the recycling bin for years. After watching this video, I've done some research and no, they can't be. This is because they are usually made from recycled paper and can't be recycled again as the paper fibers have become too short. The site I looked at did say they can be used in composting though, which might be useful for some people. As I live in central London, I think it's better I just reduce my usage of them all together. When I thought they could be recycled, I didn't worry about my usage - now I do!

[@motobazuka2535]

Poor product labeling is a huge issue. Need non recyclable symbol also

[@nexus1g]

That doesn't make sense. For instance, that cup was recyclable. Until she put tea in it. Then it was no longer recyclable. I could have a cardboard box that has a recyclable symbol on it, but if I put a pizza on it to eat off of (why, i don't know, just follow along), then it's no longer recyclable.

[@Vox]

Totally agree, the symbols and language on products add to the confusion. Sometimes products will say "made from post-consumer recyclable materials" but that doesn't guarantee that the item itself can actually be recycled. (-Ellen)

[@nexus1g]

@@Vox How is that confusing to people, and how do those people dress themselves in the morning?

[@tanyavs1]

@@Vox Both coffee/pop cups and pizza boxes are recyclable where I live. The lids/straws are not. I think our program in very clear on what goes in what bin (garbage, recycle, compost). I mean, it's right here. It tells you where to take all other waste as well: www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages/Recycling-information/Residential-services/Blue-cart-recycling/Blue-Cart-Recycling.aspx

[@magicvibrations5180]

How about implementing a return policy on bottles and cans like we do in some European countries? When you buy a drinks container you pay a small fee ($0,2 would do it) for each container and then you return it in a machine at the store. Sure people on the go might still put it in the garbage but many families just let them accumulate in their garage until they go return it all at the same time and get like $50 at the end. For the rest of the trash, have a local recycling station where people can dump off their sorted recyclables in seperate containers. Personally, i have two boxes at home. One for cardboard and one for paper (mainly newspapers and flyers). Sorting it at home also makes it easier to know what's recyclable and what's not as you already know all the different categories.

[@priyankaraghuthaman3080]

👍Agree 💯. We do that too, albeit in a small way. Best thing is to always reduce consumption.

[@ashishjavanjal3238]

Mumbai city is the worst example of recycling garbage in India .

[@notthegoatseguy]

This is a challenge at my office where we have recycling, trash, and composting. Even though its been nearly 2 years, I am still seeing pizza boxes in the recycling, regular cardboard boxes in the COMPOST, and the specifically marked biodegradable cups and utensils we use in the trash.

[@RetroBerner]

Thanks for nothing, why didn't y'all make a video on how to recycle properly?

[@pmunkyandpals11]

Because it varies from city to city!

[@marredcheese]

@@pmunkyandpals11 Yeah, but plenty of things morons try to recycle aren't recyclable ANYWHERE.

[@CalLadyQED]

They did. Don't.

[@sesi7811]

Paper towels don’t have to be thrown away though bc they’re compostable. It’s unfortunate that there aren’t more composting facilities around the country to cut down on the non-recycle-able yet compostable items that end up in the trash.

[@sesi7811]

pizza boxes are also compostable!!

[@PsychotriaV]

You aren't recycling wrong. Companies are packaging wrong. If a material cannot be recycled currently, we should either not use that material for packaging and disposables, or start processes to be able to recycle it.

[@AceMonkeyIlium]

Recycling in Japan is almost perfect besides the fact that it’s hard work for the person who’s throwing it away.

[@PlayMoGame]

This wouldn't be as much of a problem if Americans weren't too damn lazy to use multiple bins.

[@kau_chan_plays]

that why it's important to label the product itself if it's recyclable or not! this will help us to know !

[@teku6266]

This is not a problem in Sweden or Atleast within the city I live in lol xd

[@sarabrock6345]

Happy Groundwater Awareness Week! Thanks for sharing recycling tips to protect our drinking water source!

[@muryooo]

america WTF?! why do single stream, thats ridiculous.

[@NickyThanksYou]

mury 0 and having 4 different waste containers in your home isn’t ridiculous?

[@muryooo]

@@NickyThanksYou no its not, it works so many countries and it takes away just as much space as one big container

[@CaligoEstAetas]

@@NickyThanksYou German here - I can confirm that there is no problem at all having multiple containers. We have larger containers outside in the backyard of our house (for apartment buildings there are usually large shared ones available), so inside you just need to gather your separated trash in smaller bins and you're good. We have bins outside for organic waste, for plastic, metal and wrapping materials, one for paper (the largest one) and one for all other types of residual waste. Glass is also seperated, but needs to be gathered and taken to special disposal points in the town (separated by glass color). That said, most bottles etc. here are disposed via the Pfandsystem anyways, so they will be brought back to the stores you bought them at where you get some "deposit" money back.

[@chec8timi355]

I live in Canada. I had a few classes on how to recycle and sometimes there’s volunteers in town that talk to people and put up signs on how to recycle.

[@TheFomads]

When i find out i have never recycled... Even though I thought I was.

[@adam-t]

Not just you. If your recycling contained contaminants, they also would have likely refused the waste from your neighbors in that same haul. Regardless of how diligent they were.

[@KnowledgePerformance7]

Turns out my school was lying to us. They have recycling bins but it all gets thrown into the dumpster