Wishcycling: what it is and how you might be falling into it
Discover the well-intentioned mistakes you might be making in the name of sustainability (and how to finally get recycling right).
Maria Elisa Nascimento
9/14/20265 min read
Have you ever stood in front of a set of recycling bins, unsure which colour your item belongs in? Don't feel embarrassed, that's far more common than you'd think. But did you know that this well-intentioned confusion has a name of its own, precisely because of the ripple effects incorrect disposal can cause?
Wishcycling is a well-intentioned recycling habit undermined by the wrong method. Like when we toss a questionable item into the recycling bin, hoping that someone will manage to recycle it later, during sorting. We are doing our best and want to contribute to a more sustainable future, but even the best intentions don't get far with the wrong tools.
Part of the Systematic Mind method is about optimising and reusing resources to eliminate excess and build a fuller, healthier life — and that's why we've put together this short guide: to explain the concept, walk through the most common mistakes, and share a few extra tips to help our community become more sustainable.
What the numbers say about recycling in Ireland
In 2024, Repak's Recycling Knowledge Audit surveyed households across Ireland on their recycling knowledge. Among the findings, 88% of participants believed they were doing a great job with recycling, but only 53% could correctly identify which materials could or couldn't be recycled.
At the same time, a separate estimate from Ireland's EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) suggests that 127,000 tonnes of recyclable material is thrown away incorrectly every year — a quarter of everything placed in recycling bins nationally.
These numbers point to two things: first, that people are getting it wrong, and second, that they're very likely doing so without even realising it. Not for lack of care, but because some of the information out there simply isn't clear enough.
The 5 most common wishcycling mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Drawing on insights from Routeware, a waste industry resource, these are five materials we use all the time and often throw away without ever imagining they'll be rejected from collection, and a few alternatives we discovered to redirect them properly.
Plastic bags and film Most people don't realise this, but recycling collection frequently rejects this type of material. Because they're thin and stretchy, these plastics get tangled in sorting machinery and jam the equipment, disrupting the whole mechanical separation process.
It's worth considering an alternative for reuse instead: some supermarkets, including Tesco, Aldi and Lidl, have previously offered in-store recycling points for soft plastics. It's worth checking with your local branch to see what's currently available.
Polystyrene products Here in Ireland, this type of material isn't accepted in the green recycling bin either, due to its low density and its tendency to be contaminated by food residue.
An option is to check whether your local civic amenity centre has a facility for this kind of material. The website mywaste.ie offers a tool to find the nearest one using your Eircode.
If there's no collection point in your area, you can dispose of polystyrene in general waste. A tip is that if you break the material into smaller pieces it will reduce the space it takes up in landfill.
Greasy pizza boxes The cardboard itself is recyclable, as long as it isn't contaminated with oil or food residue. But you can't throw it all in the same bin.
The solution is simple: separate the clean, dry sections for recycling. The soiled parts go to general waste, or can be repurposed for compost.
Shredded paper Paper shredded into very small pieces is hard for automatic sorting processes to handle, which is why many recycling programmes reject it.
A practical alternative is to use shredded paper in your compost pile, where it helps balance out moisture levels.
Broken glass This one's a bit more delicate. Not only does it pose a safety risk for sorting-facility workers, but did you know each type of glass also has a different composition?
Ceramic, window, mirror or lightbulb glass isn't recyclable and isn't accepted at standard recycling centres.
Ordinary container glass (drinks bottles or condiment jars) can be recycled.
Either way, handle this kind of disposal with care: never put loose glass straight into the bin. Wrap broken pieces in newspaper or cardboard to protect whoever handles the material afterwards.
How this confusion affects recycling cycles (and a few solutions to it)
As we've seen, it's common to mix up general waste with what's actually recyclable.
One point worth paying attention to across the board is contamination: food residue and dirt make it impossible to recycle materials that could otherwise be accepted.
But as we've also seen, turning to composting as an option for materials like soiled cardboard and shredded paper gives new purpose to things that would otherwise just take up space in landfill.
And speaking of giving materials a new purpose, one piece of guidance Systematic Mind always shares with clients is to give new life to what they already have.
Shoeboxes or empty packaging can be used as organisers
Glass jars can become plant pots
Empty jars with lids from food you've finished can be reused to store new food
Nutella jars can be reused for keeping nuts and grains
An old bath towel can become a small rug or a cleaning cloth
Everything can become something new, when we bring a little creativity to it.
Good information reduces wishcycling (and builds real sustainability).
Awareness around sustainability has grown, but we're all still learning. To make more consistent, well-grounded decisions in line with that cause, the first step is seeking out reliable, well-informed sources. We've put together three websites with updates on recycling centres, educational content, and more practical sustainability tips.
Ireland's national hub of recycling management, fed by local authorities. There you can check the nearest recycling centre using your Eircode, and see which materials it accepts.
Ireland's Extended Producer Responsibility organisation for packaging. It offers research tools and educational content on recycling.
An independent guide, not an official source, but useful for general, practical orientation.
Happening in September: Ireland's SDG Week
From 19–27 September, Dublin is hosting Ireland's SDG Week, a part of the wider European Sustainable Development Week.
It's an open invitation for individuals, schools, and businesses across the country to organise or take part in activities that support the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, from workshops to community clean-ups.
Together, a little from each of us becomes a lot.
Individual actions don't cancel out the importance of coordinated efforts from the public, industrial, and private sectors. But if there are small changes we can make to our routine to help build a more sustainable future, why not?
At Systematic Mind, we believe that responsible consumption, recycling, and giving materials a proper, considered second life (right down to correct disposal) are ways of reclaiming space for what really matters, while keeping a sense of community alive.
If you want to reorganise a physical space and need some help with the process, get in touch to learn more about our personal organising services.
thesystematicmind@gmail.com
+353 083 398 4754
Dublin, Ireland
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