Check out this helpful information on recycling myths.
1. Myth: Everything with a recycling symbol is recyclable.
Fact: The symbol shows material type, not what your local facility accepts.
2. Myth: It’s okay to guess what’s recyclable — “wishcycling” helps.
Fact: Guesswork often leads to contamination; non-recyclables can spoil batches.
3. Myth: Recyclables don’t need cleaning.
Fact: Quick rinsing (removing food/liquid) is enough — major residue causes issues.
4. Myth: Recycling uses more energy/resources than it saves.
Fact: Recycled aluminum, steel, paper, etc., require far less energy than producing from virgin materials.
5. Myth: Paper/box soiled with food (like pizza boxes) can’t be recycled at all.
Fact: The clean parts often are recyclable; just remove or discard greasy bits.
6. Myth: All plastics are recyclable if they have a number code.
Fact: Many plastic types are not accepted locally; markets, facility capability, and the type of plastic matter.
7. Myth: Compostable/biodegradable items can go in recycling.
Fact: These often require special composting, and mixing them with recyclables can cause contamination.
8. Myth: All glass (cookware, light bulbs, etc.) is recycled like bottles.
Fact: Specialty glass often has diperent melting points or materials and isn’t accepted in regular glass recycling.
9. Myth: If something isn’t accepted curbside, it’s not recyclable anywhere.
Fact: There are drop-op or special recycling programs for items not handled curbside.
10. Myth: Recycling eports don’t make a diperence.
Fact: Recycling saves energy, reduces greenhouse gases, conserves resources, and creates jobs — small actions add up.
There’s only one Earth — and it’s up to all of us to help take care of it. Why Recycling Matters: ♻️ Reduces Landfill WasteItems that can be recycled take up unnecessary space in landfills. Recycling keeps usable materials in circulation instead of buried in the ground. 🌳 Conserves Natural ResourcesRecycling paper saves trees. Recycling aluminum saves […]
May is Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to the high rates of violence experienced by Native American and Alaska Native communities. MMIP highlights the urgent need to address the number of Indigenous people who go missing or are murdered each year. Native communities face higher rates of […]
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and support for survivors. Sexual violence can happen anywhere, in any community, and affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, including Native American communities, who are disproportionately impacted. Sexual violence means any unwanted sexual contact or behavior without consent. This can include rape, […]
Plastic production has grown rapidly over the past 60 years, creating an estimated 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic—most of it used in disposable products that quickly become trash. Of that total, about 6.3 billion metric tons has already become waste. Despite widespread recycling eaorts, only about 9% of plastic waste has been recycled. Around […]
By A. Gwynn Henderson and David Pollack On September 7, 1816, readers skimming the Niles’ Weekly Register might have noticed a story about two groups of Shawnee men visiting central Kentucky. It appears on a page with a variety of national and international news: an accounting of how many immigrants had arrived in America, details […]
On November 15, Shawnee Tribe’s Environmental Manager, Cindy Riley, participated in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s recycling event to explore new ways of collecting and processing materials—from electronics and batteries to tires, and many more items—and to bring those best practices back to our own tribal community. Key takeaways: Next steps: Together, we can grow our […]
Button cell batteries are the small, flat, round batteries found in watches, hearing aids, key fobs, calculators, toys, and medical devices. They may be tiny, but they contain valuable materials and can create safety hazards if thrown in the trash. Because they are so small, button batteries are often tossed with household waste. However, lithium […]
On October 22, 2025, the Shawnee Tribe was notified that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would pause operations during the month of November due to a protracted government shutdown. In response, the Shawnee Tribe developed the Temporary Emergency Food Benefit Assistance Program, which was established by October 29, 2025, to support Shawnee Tribe families […]