New Year, New Habits: Simple Recycling Changes That Make a Big Impact

A new year is the perfect time to refresh habits—including how we recycle. Small changes at home, work, or school can have a big impact on keeping recycling programs effective and affordable.

Habit #1: Rinse Before You Recycle

Food residue contaminates paper, cardboard, and plastics. A quick rinse is all it takes to:

  • Prevent odors

  • Reduce contamination

  • Improve material quality

Containers don’t need to be spotless—just empty and rinsed.

Habit #2: Break Down Cardboard

Unbroken boxes take up valuable space and slow processing. Breaking down cardboard:

  • Saves room in bins

  • Improves efficiency

  • Reduces handling time

This is especially important for businesses and high-volume generators.

Habit #3: Keep Bags Out of Recycling

Plastic bags and bagged recyclables are one of the biggest contamination issues. Recyclables should be loose unless specifically directed—such as soft plastics placed only in Hefty® ReNew bags.

Habit #4: When in Doubt, Check It Out

If you’re unsure whether something is recyclable:

  • Check WRG’s website

  • Look for posted signage

  • When unsure, leave it out

Wish-cycling causes more harm than good.

Habit #5: Share the Knowledge

Recycling works best when everyone is informed. Share recycling guidelines with:

  • Family members

  • Employees

  • Tenants

  • Students

Education reduces contamination and keeps programs running smoothly.

Small Changes = Big Results

When recyclables are clean and sorted correctly:

  • Less material ends up in landfills

  • Processing costs stay lower

  • Recycling remains available for the entire community

This year, let’s make recycling easier, cleaner, and more effective—together.

WesternResources Group