Most people don’t care how to give more benefits to their country or themselves and don’t take things seriously. Like, it could even be a matter of collecting your home or society’s waste. Because if they are not aware enough, they will keep collecting garbage and some valuable sources at the same place. That’s why the recycle bin color code is introduced and provided to the people so that if they have an idea of which products can be recycled, they would be able to keep them separated.
Therefore, in this guide, we will learn how to be a responsible citizen of the united states of America or anywhere else and how to keep things organized. It doesn’t matter, even if it comes from the recycling bins. Let’s have a look!
What Is A Recycling Bin Color Code?
Everybody knows that we use various products daily from which most can be recycled and reused.
These include all those plastic stuff, paper, aluminum, glass, etc. The problem is that most people don’t recognize the importance of recycling and keep collecting all the stuff, including these recyclable products and garbage, in the same place.
This creates even a bigger mess than a landfill, resulting in several environmental and health challenges.
Therefore, different color codes have been introduced for recycling bins to have a streamlined and highly recommended organization of these recyclables.
We all know a basic purpose of a recycling bin. But things get clearer when you exactly know which color belongs for collecting which type of material inside it.
Read more about recycling bin in our All About Recycling Bin guide. There, you will find more details about these bins!
How does A Recycling Bin Code Help The Local Govt Or Waste Management Companies?
Having a unique colored recycling bin to keep a specific material or waste product that can be recycled means a lot for these people.
It helps them in so many ways. And as stated, most local govt officials and waste management companies ask people to apply these codes.
Because it is for their own benefits. These benefits might be as follows.
- It helps the Recycling Centers with easy recycling.
- They don’t have to waste time, money, and energy in arranging specific materials into their specific category.
- The paper goes into a bin associated with paper, glass goes in a recycling bin for glass, and plastic goes in a bin dedicated to plastic. This helps the organizations choose which material to recycle in which recycling unit.
- Moreover, there shall be no garbage or landfill waste in these recycling bins. It provides clean and sorted recyclable products for collection by waste management companies.
Therefore, having a specific color code for recycling bins implemented in your area means you are doing a favor.
Plus, by being a respectful citizen, you are saving your country from the costs that would spend otherwise on mining and finding raw materials such as plastic, glass, and others.
What Are Different Colored Bins Used For?
Before taking any next step, you should have a proper idea of how many colors these recycling bins are available.
And what does each color state regarding keeping the material or product waste inside it? In this section, I would like to take a brief note on the top 5 colors for the recycling bins.
These are all used excessively and will let you know in detail what you can put inside each colored bin. Please have a look!
1: A Red Recycling Bin:
Red is one of the most available colors for different kinds of stuff or recognitions. In most cases, whenever you find a red recycling bin, it states a definite purpose and takes a closer look at the stuff which can be kept inside it.
Most local government officials and waste management companies have allotted this red color recycling bin to collect materials with a thin plastic coating.
You can keep these recycling bins or see them placed outside your home or in the local area for the most basic purpose of collecting landfill waste.
A red recycling bin can be used to keep the following materials specifically.
- It can keep all types of plastic bags.
- Stuff made from Polystyrene.
- Those cling wraps come into a red recycling bin.
- The glazed wrappers are also put in a red one.
- And some sticky papers do come in a red recycling bin.
2: A Blue Colored Recycling Bin:
Where red is a prominent color, blue also has significant importance. The blue color is usually considered a symbol of peace and prosperity.
There are several blue bins to see around the street, in a public place, or anywhere else.
You may find the purpose of these bins above them, or you just have to remember the meaning of this blue color code.
A blue recycling bin is usually placed in several places to indicate that you can put pieces of paper and stuff related to this recyclable material.
Therefore, a blue bin will mostly be used at offices or places where there is excessive paper waste.
Such waste paper goes to the recycling centers for recycling purposes so that new paper stuff can be produced. It helps save a country from cutting trees and producing raw materials.
So, if you find a blue recycling bin nearby, the following stuff would easily go inside it. Please have a look.
- All those office papers.
- Books that have been wrapped apart and torn.
- Newspapers you already have read and of no usage anymore.
- All those cardboard pieces you find anywhere around.
- Cartoons that come keeping packed stuff.
- Anything related to paper.
3: A Recycling Bin In A White Color:
A white recycling bin is not commonly seen in most public places or communities. But despite this, even if you find it placed anywhere you visit, you should know the exact meaning of this white recycling bin.
A white recycling bin is highly used for keeping materials made from thin plastic. Usually, we use red and white plastic bins for the same purposes.
But if you find both in a specific area, you should know what must come in a white recycling bin. These things or recyclable products are as follows.
- Consider having soft plastic bags in a white bin.
- Those bubble wraps can also be contained inside it.
- Put the empty biscuit packets in a white recycling bin.
- Frozen foods take a good space if you have a white bin.
- On the other hand, those cling wraps and confectionary bags can also be contained in a white bin color.
4: A Green Colored Recycling Bin:
Green is what gives peace to the eyes. And when a green bin is placed or dedicated in your area, consider it for keeping another specific category of materials.
This bin is closely related to keeping organic materials because this organic materials collecting system proves to be beneficial for the current environment.
In such a case, whenever your eyes go to a green bin, you should know that it is there to keep all those organic waste materials.
Please consider putting the following types of waste products in a green recycling bin.
- The Coffee Grounds go into a green bin.
- Pruning also goes in a green bin.
- Foods and food leftovers have a good place in a green recycling bin.
- Veggies and fruits must also be kept inside a green recycling bin.
5: A Yellow Recycling Bin:
What if you get a recycling bin organized and available to keep almost all types of materials at once? Yes, that would be something quick and less confusing.
Therefore, a yellow recycling bin comes at the top when discussing having a bin for mixed recycling purposes.
However, even if the yellow bin asks you to put different things inside, it doesn’t mean you can keep everything inside.
There is still a variation on the products that would go in a recycling bin of a yellow color. Please have a look!
- A yellow recycling bin can keep all those Glass Bottles, including beer, cans, soda bottles, etc.
- Plastic and Aluminum cans will also go in a yellow recycling bin.
- Products made from metal will likely take place in a yellow recycling bin.
- And all that stuff made from hard material goes in a recycling bin of yellow color.
Overall, these are the color codes you want to keep in mind and arrange things accordingly.
These all help you and your waste management and collecting officials easily organize these recyclable products.
They will not have to spend labor and time sorting and arranging these materials.
How Many Ways Is a Color Code Implemented In A Specific Country For Recycling Bins?
Usually, it depends on the local laws, jurisdictions, and govt as to how they implement their waste management systems. Usually, the color codes implemented in the specific areas come under the following categories.
- 3 Color Recycling Bin Recyclable Products Collection.
- 2 Colors Recycling Bin Recyclable Products Collection.
- 1 Color Recycling Bin Recyclable Products Collection.
In order to know more about these recycling bin color code systems, please have a look at each of them and read with a little more detail.
3 Colors Recycling Bin Recyclable Products Collection:
In any 3 colored recycling bin waste products collection systems, those waste management authorities and local govt make a certain division.
This division separates the organic, traditional, and landfilled waste from each other. In this system, the following colored recycling bins come under the roof.
| Recycling Bins With Colors | Materials To Keep |
| Green Recycling Bin | Used for food waste, organic materials, yard waste, and the green waste |
| Gray Recycling Bin | A Waste that is not an organic or recyclable at all |
| Blue Recycling Bin | Dedicated to the materials such as bottles, plastic, cans, papers, cardboard, etc. |
2 Colors Recycling Bin Recyclable Products Collection:
Implementing two colored recycling bin systems for collecting waste comes with two options. These are given as follows.
Option A:
| Recycling Bins With Colors | Materials To Keep |
| Gray Recycling Bin | Usually dedicated to collecting organic waste such as paper and cardboard and non-organic waste, including bottles and cans |
| Green Recycling Bin | Dedicated to food waste and yard waste |
Option B:
| Recycling Bins With Colors | Materials To Keep |
| Gray Recycling Bin | Dedicated to the organic waste collection, including food and yard waste |
| Blue Recycling Bin | Dedicated to non-organic waste, including bottles and cans, etc. |
Single Color Recycling Bin Recyclable Products Collection:
However, a single recycling bin with a gray color will always be placed to keep all types of waste in the same place.
People like to keep all types of organic and non-organic wastes in the same bin. Once filled, these are sent to some largest organic waste processing facilities.
There, they divide this waste into separate sections stating which one goes to which section for further recycling purposes.
Final Thoughts:
In all conditions, a recycle bin color code always helps you understand which recycling bin is used to keep which type of material inside. And if you have read this guide, I am damn sure that you have known all about that. But if you still encounter some queries, please let me know. I am here to help and make things easier for you.
Overall, thanks for being here, spending time, and giving importance. Take good care of yourself and see you soon on the next one. May the blessings be on your way!
References:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/col.22479
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9310948/
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8704146/
James is an organic fertilizer professional who owns a successful organic fertilizer company in new jersey. He is an expert in waste management in both houses and community cases. In his free time, he loves to write about his experiences in the field.
