Every July, millions of people around the world take part in Plastic Free July, a global challenge to reduce taking single‑use plastics. And it’s inspiring—less waste in our oceans, less plastic littering our streets, and less strain on our ecosystems. Reducing plastic consumption is the first step in affecting real change. The second step is recycling. But there’s a persistent voice that creeps in every year: “Recycling is useless. Most of it just ends up in the landfill anyway.”
Sound familiar? This myth spreads fast, fueled by headlines about contamination, confusing rules, or export bans. The truth is more nuanced: recycling works, when we do it right, and it’s getting better every year.

The Recycling Landfill Myth, Debunked

The claim that “most of what you put in the recycling bin just ends up in a landfill” is misleading. The often-cited statistic that only 21% of recyclable material gets recycled leaves out an important detail: most recyclables never make it to the bin in the first place. In fact, 76% of recyclable items are thrown away at home and only 3% are lost once they reach a recycling center. In other words, the problem isn’t that recycling facilities are failing — it’s that everyday people are tossing recyclable items in the trash instead of the bin.

Why Good Recyclables Get Trashed (and How to Fix It)

1. Confusion about what’s recyclable
Local rules vary, and packaging can be unclear.
Fix: Check your city’s guide — or, when it launches, use the RYSITapp.

2. “Wish-cycling”
Tossing in questionable items “just in case” can contaminate whole loads.
Fix: When in doubt, keep it out — or save it for a specialty drop.

3. No convenient bin nearby
On the go, people throw bottles and cans into trash bins.
Fix: Keep a small reusable bag in your tote or car to hold recyclables until you reach a bin. Better yet, bring your own reusable bottle.

4. Apartment & condo barriers
Limited space, poor signage, or missing bins kill participation.
Fix: Ask property managers for paired, labeled bins and clear pictogram signage.

5. Contamination fears
Greasy pizza boxes and dirty containers make people trash everything “to be safe.”
Fix: Scrape and quick-rinse. If it’s soaked in grease, trash it; otherwise, keep it clean and dry.

6. Effort fatigue
Sorting feels like a chore.
Fix: Keep your trash and recycling bins side by side in the kitchen so recycling is the default.

7. Confusing packaging
Multi-layer pouches, black plastics, or tiny items are tricky. Adding to the confusion is local rules vs. packaging guidelines and symbols.
Fix: Follow your local rules. Keep small caps on bottles if your program allows.

Note on bagging: Most cities require clear bags for recyclables (not white or black trash bags). If sanitation workers can’t see what’s inside, they can’t risk contaminating the load with trash — therefore, the whole bag gets tossed in a landfill. Other cities (such as LA) insist items be loose in the cart. Check your local rules—bagging incorrectly can cause recycled items to be thrown away.

What Happens After the Bin: The Recycling Process

Step 1: Collection & Sorting (MRFs)
Recycling trucks deliver mixed items to a recycling center called materials recovery facility (MRF).
Here, screens, magnets, optical sorters, and AI-powered robots separate paper, cardboard, metals, and different plastics.

Step 2: Processing & Sale
Sorted materials are baled and sold to manufacturers. Since China’s 2018 import restrictions, the U.S. has built more domestic recycling capacity, keeping materials closer to home.

Step 3: Remanufacturing
Those bales are turned into feedstock: pulp, pellets, flakes, or ingots. They’re used to create new products, completing the circular economy loop.

What Recycled Materials Become (Real Examples)

Paper & Cardboard → New Boxes & Packaging
Most cardboard boxes contain recycled fiber.

PET Bottles → New Bottles & Textiles
Plastic bottles become new beverage bottles, polyester for clothing, shoes, and car interiors.
Aluminum Cans → Cans Again
Aluminum is a circular superstar—it can be recycled indefinitely using a fraction of the energy of new metal.
Beyond the Usual Suspects

Furniture

Building materials

Commercial décor panels

Fashion fibers via enzyme and chemical recycling

The Future of Recycling: Smarter, Cleaner, Circular

Recycling is evolving fast, thanks to technology and policy shifts:

Advanced (chemical/molecular) recycling can break plastics into building blocks for high-quality reuse.
AI & robotics improve sorting accuracy, capture more material, and reduce contamination.
Deposit/return programs deliver cleaner bottles manufacturers want.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies push companies to design more recyclable packaging and fund better systems. Seven states in American have now implemented this important policy.

Each improvement strengthens the loop — and every clean, properly recycled item makes the system more efficient.

How You Can Help Right Now

Recycle clean and dry. Quick scrape/rinse; air-dry before binning.

Follow local rules. When in doubt, check your city site or upcoming RYSIT app.
Buy recycled products. Choosing post-consumer content closes the loop.
Pair your bins. Make recycling effortless in your home.
Advocate for better access. Clear signage and paired bins in buildings and offices make a huge difference.

The Bottom Line

As Plastic Free July comes to an end, we’ve all hopefully contributed to limited plastic consumption. But in those instances where we must use plastic-let’s silence the myth that recycling is pointless. It isn’t. In fact, it’s one of the most tangible ways we can all help build a circular economy—where waste becomes resources, and resources stay in use. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. That’s the RYSIT way.

Where Your Recycling Really Goes (And Why It’s Not the Landfill)