Wishcycling: You Can’t Just Toss Everything in the Recycling Bin

As Earth Month comes to a close, I’d like to highlight one well-intentioned eco-concept I come across often in households, and one I’ve been guilty of myself: wishcycling.

Wishcycling is when we toss items into the recycling bin hoping they’ll be recycled, even though they aren’t actually accepted. Unfortunately, recycling doesn’t work on hope alone. Local recycling programs can only process certain materials, and when too many non-recyclable items end up in the bin, the entire load can be rejected and sent to the landfill.

Some items that are recyclable require special handling or drop-off locations and can’t go in your curbside bin. I’ll be honest—it’s not always easy to find clear information about what’s truly recyclable. That’s why I wanted to share a few key items that definitely don’t belong in the bin here in Ontario County:

(Full list available at ontariocountyrecycles.org)

One major no-no: plastic film.
This includes the plastic garbage bags many of us use to collect recyclables before putting them in the bin. Plastic film is considered a tangler—something that can wrap around recycling machinery, causing breakdowns, shutdowns, and even worker injuries. Any plastic film in your bin can cause the whole batch to be rejected.

The solution? Put your recyclables directly into the bin loose—no plastic bags needed.

I keep learning more every day. Let’s keep doing our best to reduce waste and recycle the right way!