About Rainbow Bins
There isn’t much that we as individuals can do to face the daunting and overwhelming challenges of climate change. But recycling IS something we can do together. Rainbow Bins was created to help America rethink the way we recycle so we can all be part of the solution. By changing the way we dispose of waste, we can improve the recycling process and, ultimately, the management of our natural resources. Let’s work together to create a better, more transparent system to support a circular economy, while building practices that help to combat waste, leaving the earth better than we found it.
Only 32% of waste is recycled in the United States.
— National Recycling Rate
Too many recyclable materials are landing in the landfill
32% of Paper is Not Recycled
50% of Aluminum Cans are Not Recycled
72% of Plastic Bottles are Not Recycled
60% of Glass Bottles are Not Recycled
So what’s wrong with the system?
Lack of Education
The single-stream system is bogged down with materials that are not actually recyclable. People *think* something should be recycled so drop it in the bin hoping it will be processed. This is called wishcycling, and it is a huge problem in managing waste.
Material Contamination
Many people don’t know how to recycle effectively. For example, if certain materials aren’t rinsed and dried, the recycling bin could get contaminated with food waste and water. Often this leads to the whole lot getting discarded. Yikes!
Lacking Infrastructure
Recycling facilities have varying requirements and technology. Even something standard like a milk jug might be accepted at one facility and not the next. The lack of a national standard creates significant confusion. Let's focus on what can be recycled.
