Burning Question: Is it more sustainable to buy recycled products or products made of recycled materials?
- ASCP News
- Dec 5
- 3 min read
Recycling can be confusing no matter where you are. Not every city can recycle the same types of materials, and labels can be tricky or misleading. While we break down some common misconceptions and myths about recycling, we’ll answer a question from a student at Auraria: is it more sustainable to buy products that are recyclable or products made of recycled materials?
When a product is recyclable, it means it can be collected and remanufactured into new products (1). Different locations can have different recycling rules, because different companies have varying capacities for what they can process.
Where and what can I recycle?
Auraria Campus and the City of Denver use different companies to recycle, so the types of allowable recyclables can vary between the two. Make sure you read the signs on the bin and look up what is accepted where you are. When in doubt, throw it out (in the landfill). It is better to add one small, potentially recyclable item to the landfill if you’re not sure where it goes than to have a non-recyclable item contaminating the recycling stream. Too high of a contamination rate (generally 10% for recyclables), makes a load subject to rejection, which is then sent to the landfill.
Not everything that is recyclable has recycled content, and not everything that has recycled content is also recyclable (1). The numbers on the bottom of plastic containers do not necessarily mean that the product is recyclable; they just specify what type of plastic it is (1). Even products that are very difficult to recycle can be labeled “recyclable”, “eco-friendly”, or “green”. This is called greenwashing (3). Be wary of this tactic that companies use because they know that people might pay more for a product they think is better for the planet. Just because a product is technically recyclable does not mean it will get recycled (3).
Recycling process
There are five general steps to the single-stream/curbside recycling process: collection, sorting, brokering/selling, remanufacturing, and re-entry into the market (3). This process can create a product that is of equal value or downcycled. Downcycling means that it is made into something of lesser value and lower quality (2). In other recycling streams, materials can be upcycled, meaning discarded materials are made into something of greater value, such as making furniture from reclaimed wood. Both upcycling and downcycling are important because the process gives those materials another life.
Aluminum, glass, and metal have longer lifespans, meaning they can be recycled many times, if not infinitely, without losing value (4). Recycling aluminum and glass can end up with the same raw material of equal value (2), and recycled metal reduces the demand for newly mined materials (4). It is estimated that two thirds of all aluminum ever produced is still being used today (4). Using recycled glass is 33% more energy efficient than creating new glass (4). If you can, choose these materials instead of plastic.
Paper can be recycled into more paper about five to seven times and then can become items like newspaper or egg cartons (4). Plastic can only be recycled a couple of times before it is downcycled, but can then be used for products like clothing, fleece, or plastic or composite lumber (4). This means it can become a great product but will end up in the landfill after that part of its life. Recycled plastics are mixed with virgin materials to be reused but can still only be recycled two or three times (6). Check the labels to see if they are both recycled and recyclable because they could be both!
Better to buy recycled
When given the choice between a product made of recycled materials, and a product that is recyclable but made of virgin materials, it is more sustainable to choose the product made of recycled materials. Buying products made of recycled content makes the recycling system more economically viable (3) and creates a higher demand for these products (1). It shows companies that as consumers, we want to see materials actually get recycled instead of just saying that they have the potential to be. Sometimes these recycled materials can still be recyclable again. Recycled products conserve the energy and resources needed to manufacture new products (1). Vote with your dollar!
References