Recycling

Time - Public confidence and trust in recycling systems is on the decline. While 87% of Americans say recycling is important, only about 32% of household waste is recycled or composted, according to 2025 data. More Americans believe that recycling feels harder today than it did four years ago.

Although what is recyclable varies greatly depending on where you live, there’s typically a simple rule you can follow, experts say. “Think about your bottles, cans, and containers that are in your laundry, kitchen, and bathrooms… and paper and cardboard,” says Cody Marshall, chief programs officer at The Recycling Partnership, a nonprofit dedicated to creating a better recycling system. “Those are things that are recyclable.”

Avoid recycling things like plastic bags, which can jam machinery, and batteries, and refrain from bagging your recycling in trash bags. Also refrain from what experts call “wish-cycling,” the practice of putting something in the recycling bin and hoping it's recyclable.