Top 9+ Things You Think Are Recyclable — But Actually Aren’t

Pizza Boxes

Most people toss greasy pizza boxes right into the recycling bin, thinking they’re just cardboard. However, recycling centers can’t process cardboard contaminated with food oils and cheese.

According to the American Forest & Paper Association in 2024, the leftover grease and food bits actually clog up recycling machinery and weaken the recycled paper’s quality. Even a small amount of oil can ruin an entire batch of clean cardboard.

Some municipalities have started public campaigns to highlight this, showing that only the clean, grease-free parts of the box are recyclable. The rest goes straight to landfill, contributing to the more than 17 million tons of paper waste sent to landfills in the U.S.

each year. The next time you finish a pizza, tear off the clean lid for recycling and trash the greasy bottom.

Plastic Bags and Film

Plastic bags from grocery stores or bread packaging look recyclable because they have the “chasing arrows” symbol. But most curbside programs won’t take them.

The problem, confirmed by the EPA in 2023, is that lightweight plastic film tangles up in sorting machines, causing expensive shutdowns for repairs. This disrupts recycling operations and increases costs for local governments, with some facilities reporting stoppages as often as every 30 minutes when plastic bags are present.

Instead, most supermarkets offer drop-off bins specifically for these plastics, where they’re sent to specialized facilities. Only about 10% of all plastic bags in the U.S.

actually end up being recycled, leaving billions to pollute waterways and oceans. Don’t be fooled by the recycling symbol—check your city’s rules before tossing those bags in the blue bin.

Takeout Coffee Cups

Takeout coffee cups are everywhere, but they’re not as environmentally friendly as they look. While made mostly of paper, these cups are lined with a thin layer of plastic to prevent leaks.

The National Waste & Recycling Association in 2024 reported that this plastic coating makes cups nearly impossible to recycle with standard paper streams. Only a handful of U.S.

facilities—less than 30 nationwide—have the technology to separate the layers. As a result, an estimated 50 billion coffee cups are thrown away in the U.S.

each year, ending up in landfills or as street litter. Many cities have started to put up signs warning customers not to recycle these cups.

Even if you rinse them out, that pesky plastic lining means they’re still trash.

Shredded Paper

Shredded paper is another recycling trap. Even though paper is one of the most recycled materials, once it’s shredded, its fibers become too short to be reused effectively.

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) stated in 2023 that shredded paper often falls through screens at recycling plants, mixing with glass and other contaminants. This contamination can ruin entire batches of recyclables, driving up disposal costs and reducing the value of recycled materials.

Many curbside programs now explicitly ban shredded paper, suggesting instead to compost it or use it as packing material. Only specialized drop-off locations or community events accept it, and only if it’s bagged separately.

It’s a classic example of a well-intentioned habit that backfires.

Paper Towels and Napkins

Paper towels and napkins seem recyclable because they’re made of paper, but after they’ve been used, they’re usually covered in food, grease, or cleaning chemicals. According to the EPA’s 2024 guidelines, the fibers in these products are already so short that they can’t be recycled into new paper products.

On top of that, any leftover food or cleaning product can contaminate other recyclables. As a result, almost all recycling programs ask you to put used paper towels and napkins in the trash or compost.

They make up a surprising amount of waste: the average American uses over 50 pounds of paper towels each year, most of it destined for landfill. Composting is the best route for these soft papers, especially if they’re free of chemicals.

Styrofoam Containers

Styrofoam, or expanded polystyrene foam, is a notorious recycling imposter. It’s used for everything from coffee cups to packaging peanuts and takeout containers.

While technically recyclable, the process is so costly and complicated that almost no city in the U.S. accepts it curbside, as confirmed by the National Resources Defense Council in 2024.

The lightweight foam breaks apart easily, contaminating other recyclables and blowing away during transport. Less than 1% of Styrofoam is recycled in the United States, and the rest can take decades to break down in landfills.

Some cities have even banned Styrofoam altogether, urging people to switch to compostable or reusable alternatives. When in doubt, keep Styrofoam out of the recycling bin.

Clothing and Textiles

Old t-shirts, socks, and sheets often end up in recycling bins because people assume they can be turned into new fabrics. However, most curbside programs do not process textiles, as highlighted by the Council for Textile Recycling in 2023.

The machinery at material recovery facilities isn’t equipped to handle fabric, which wraps around equipment and causes jams. This creates expensive delays and forces workers to manually clear the blockages, increasing the risk of injury.

Experts estimate that Americans throw away about 70 pounds of clothing per person each year, though donation and textile recycling centers can take many of these items. It’s best to donate, upcycle, or bring textiles to dedicated drop-off sites rather than tossing them in your curbside bin.

Black Plastic Containers

That sleek black plastic takeout container may look sophisticated, but it’s nearly impossible to recycle. The problem, according to the Association of Plastic Recyclers in 2024, is that sorting machines use optical scanners to identify plastics, and these machines can’t detect black plastic.

As a result, black containers slip through the system and are discarded as trash, even if they’re technically made of recyclable material. The rise of meal delivery apps has only increased the number of these containers in circulation.

Some cities have started public campaigns to discourage their use or ask restaurants to switch to clear or white plastics, which are easier to recycle. Unless your local program specifically says otherwise, black plastic belongs in the garbage.

Chip Bags and Snack Wrappers

Shiny chip bags and snack wrappers might look like foil, but they’re usually made from layers of plastic and aluminum fused together. This multilayer structure is almost impossible to separate, as noted by the Recycling Partnership in their 2023 report.

Standard recycling facilities aren’t equipped to process these materials, so they’re automatically sorted out and sent to landfill. Worldwide, it’s estimated that over 150 billion snack wrappers are thrown away every year.

Some brands have started take-back programs or developed biodegradable alternatives, but these options are still rare. For now, tossing snack wrappers in the recycling bin just creates more work for sorters and adds to the problem.