The concept of “wishcycling” has been circulating in the media lately. It’s the idea that wishing and hoping something will be recycled is causing more damage than throwing it in the trash.

Recycling feels like a no-brainer. Toss your plastic bottle into the blue bin, and you’ve done your part for the planet — right? Not exactly.

At DePaul and beyond, many people believe they’re recycling correctly, when in reality, their efforts are unintentionally making things worse. 

Jacqueline Enderle, a resident of the Lakeview East neighborhood, said this confusion affects not just individuals but entire households or friend groups who want to do the right thing — but aren’t always sure how.

“My friends, whom I would call very liberal and eager to recycle, know that recycling doesn’t work,” Enderle said. “(But) sometimes you want to throw the Styrofoam in there because at some point it’s gotta go somewhere.” 

Styrofoam, another example of confusion with recycling, is on the naughty list because it takes too long to biodegrade.

One of the biggest issues with “wishcycling” is contamination. Items like greasy pizza boxes, unwashed takeout containers and certain plastics, like plastic bags or utensils, can ruin an entire load of otherwise recyclable material. According to the 2024 State of Recycling report, only 21% of U.S. residential recyclables are captured, which means that roughly 79% of recyclable items aren’t actually being recycled.

The world is constantly changing, and that includes plastics. There is a wide variety of different plastic types, and the cheapest one to produce for businesses and corporations is the hardest one to recycle.

Experts say people often assume the system will sort things out, or that it’s better to lean on the side of recycling “just in case.” But in many cases, those guesses slow down recycling processing, increase costs and resources and even cause whole batches of recycling to be sent  to landfills.

Recycling guidelines also vary depending on location, which adds another layer of confusion. What’s recyclable in one neighborhood might not be in the next. Even within the city of Chicago, residents might not be aware of the specifics that apply to their building or ward.

At DePaul, student groups like the Outdoors Club have taken note of the confusion.

“Above every trash can or recycling bin there’s a list of things you can and can’t recycle,” freshman Lucy Thibault, the group’s vice president, said. “I think that’s really helpful and beneficial … (but) I don’t know if students take the time to actually read the signs.”

Thibault also emphasized that a lack of clear, consistent messaging can contribute to bad habits. Even well-educated and eco-conscious people often don’t realize they’re making mistakes.

“I think personal research is always beneficial,” Thibault said. “However, I know a lot of people might not be inclined to do that.”

And those small mistakes add up. The lack of clarity leads to some common missteps: recycling plastic bags in curbside bins, failing to rinse containers or including small items like bottle caps and shredded paper that often can’t be processed properly.

But there are simple steps people can take to do better.

Start local. Most cities and towns, including Chicago, post updated recycling guidelines. In Chicago, for example, blue bins don’t accept plastic bags, foam containers, electronics or textiles. But items like clean cardboard, aluminum cans and certain plastics are good to go. Many stores also offer drop-off points for specialty items like bags or batteries.

Student organizations, faculty experts and local residents all agree: awareness is the first step. It’s not just about learning the rules once — it’s about checking in regularly and staying informed as things change.

There’s also growing interest in reducing the need for recycling altogether by cutting down on waste from the start. Barbara Willard, an associate professor at DePaul who specializes in environmental communication, believes that reducing waste is a critical step that people forget.

“You have this massive growth of not only waste, but waste that is not biodegradable,” Willard said, noting that plastics are a big part of the problem.

In the end, Willard said good intentions aren’t enough. To truly make a difference, recycling needs to be accurate, not just aspirational and include the two other “R’s” — reduce and reuse.

Reuse: By repurposing jars, bags and containers, you extend their life and keep them out of landfills. Choosing secondhand items or donating what you no longer need helps reduce waste and supports a more sustainable lifestyle.

Reduce: By choosing reusable bags, bottles and containers, you can cut down on single-use plastics that pollute our environment. Small changes in daily habits — like saying no to plastic straws or buying in bulk — can significantly lower your plastic footprint.

“The ‘reduce’ is really what we need to focus on and I don’t see that happening,” Willard said. “I just see (people) needing more and more convenience.”

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