If you’re interested in finding new and better ways to reduce waste and practice good recycling habits at home, there are simple ways to do so. Here are some tips to make your household recycling more efficient and effective:

Skip the Plastic Bags

One of the simplest things you can do to improve your recycling habits at home is to skip using plastic bags to line your recycling container. While extremely convenient for gathering and moving trash and recyclables, plastic bags effectively turn the recyclable contents into trash.

Because the trash bags themselves cannot be recycled, any plastic bag full of cans, cardboard or other recyclable materials will be thrown out by your service provider. Whenever you recycle at home, opt for paper bags or an unlined reusable bin.

Rinse All Recyclables

It’s crucial to rinse off as much food and drink residue from your recyclables as possible before tossing them in the bin. While a few drops of water won’t cause problems, anything with sugar can cause mold and attract pests. If you’re recycling containers with sticky substances like peanut butter, honey or cream cheese, take the extra time to rinse them out thoroughly. If you want to recycle your pizza box or other to-go containers, toss any bits of food first or else the recyclable materials won’t be recycled.

Learn the Local Rules

While some standards are the similar in every neighborhood, each local area and recycling service has their own rules. If you recently moved to a new town, take some time to learn the local regulations for what can and cannot be recycled. Pay attention to key details like whether you should remove caps from plastic bottles, or if glass and aluminum can go together in the same container. Even if you’ve been recycling in the same place for a long time, it’s worth consulting your service provider for the most up-to-date instructions.