Do You Have Recycling Bias?

The term “Recycling Bias” refers to the tendency of people to throw larger or full sheets of paper into the recycling bin while small pieces and scraps of paper went into the trash.  The same was found to be true of crushed cans or plastic bottles. Empty but intact cans or bottles went into the recycling bin while their crushed or dented counterparts were destined for the landfill.

When a product is sufficiently distorted or changed in size or form, consumers perceive it as less useful, and when they perceive it as less useful, they're more likely to throw it in the garbage, as opposed to recycle it.

When interviewing people in study after study, all were asked the same question: “Why do you feel that the dented cans or tiny scraps of paper are any less useful in the recycling process?” Most answers had to do with their perception of the scraps.  Other answers mostly had to do with the smaller scraps of paper being a pain to deal with and were therefore considered trash.

There is an ever-frequent question in our minds after we finish using a product, “Does the product still look like it could be useful?”.   Just remember the term “Recycling Bias” next time you have a crumpled sticky note, a torn off end of an envelope, or a crushed soda can in your hand.  Evaluate these items differently when deciding where to ultimately put them.  They don’t have to be perfect to be useful.

For more information on recycling visit www.wasteawaygroup.com.