Woman shares little-known tip on what to actually do with candy wrappers: ‘Handy to know!’

Reduce, reuse, recycle – almost everyone knows the iconic slogan for waste reduction. Know exactly how recycle is a more challenging proposition. One TikToker wanted to show viewers how to recycle foil candy wrappers.

The scoop

Krystalynn Vulture (@krystalynngier) is a TikToker who shares DIY tips, recipes, and ways to be eco-conscious on a budget. In one clampthey show followers how to properly dispose of the foil packaging of certain chocolates.

@krystalynngier YES – foil CAN be recycled! As long as it’s clean, dry and collected together – most recycling centers will accept it! The bigger the ball, the easier it is to recycle *Recycling rules vary from city to city – so be sure to check local recycling requirements! We chat about all things mind body planet on this corner of the internet, so I hope you’ll stick around . . . #durable #sustainableliving #consciouslife #mindbodyplanet #mindfullife #sustainability #wellbeing #environmentallyfriendly #ecofriendlyliving #recycling ♬ Monster Mash – Bobby “Boris” Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers

The video asks, “Did you know that candy wrappers can be recycled, as long as they are clean and rolled into a ball?”

Krystalynn shows off a handful of green metallic foil wrappers and squeezes them all into a nice, neat ball.

You’ll want to check online first to see if that brand uses 100% aluminum foil, but if it does, this little package can be thrown in your trash can in most communities.

“The bigger the ball, the easier it is to recycle,” the caption adds.

How it works

Recycling can be an effective way to prevent waste from going to landfill. Materials such as cardboard and paper have a fairly high recycling rate. According to the American Forest and Paper Association“By 2022, the recycling rate for cardboard boxes exceeded 93%.”

Unfortunately, our system in the United States is flawed. California Management Review reported that “only 32.1% of waste is recycled or composted.”

The good news is that initiatives exist from local municipalities all the way to the White House. The Biden administration announced it would cut back on single-use plastics and has a plan to mitigate food waste.

There are plenty of success stories from all over the world. South KoreaFor example, the country recycles almost 100% of its food waste, up from just 3% in 1996.

What confuses you most about the recycling protocol?

Which materials I can recycle

How clean the material should be

What the plastic numbers mean

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Although the failures can feel overwhelming, you can start with the simple step of checking your local recycling center’s rules. Making sure you dispose of your belongings properly can prevent contamination and make a big impact. “Contamination costs material recovery facilities that sort recyclables at least $300 million per year in additional labor, processing and machine repairs,” CMR wrote.

What people say

Recycling enthusiasts were happy to hear that these wrappers were not destined for landfill.

“So useful to know!” someone said.

Someone else added: “Great tip!”

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