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Social security recipients may have to lower their expectations of the amount of benefits they will be receiving in the next year. According to CBS News, retirees are expected to receive an increase of $48 or 2.5% in 2025, which is below the 2.57% increase that was previously projected.

The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a group which advocates group for senior citizens, stated that the 2025 projection is calculated by the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, which is based on the inflation rate.

According to the latest statistics by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, only 23.6% of municipal solid waste is recycled—even though they estimate that 75% is recyclable. One of the major reasons for this low recycling rate is contamination, either by placing a recyclable in the wrong bin, mixing non-recyclable objects with those that are recyclable, or by including dirty items. Soiled diapers, pesticide cans, or greasy pizza boxes are examples. So, it’s no surprise that of all the things placed in recycling bins, one out of every four items is not even recyclable.

As a result, many recycling centers, facing high costs of repairing sorting machines after contaminants jam them up or losing potential revenue when huge lots of contaminated recyclables must be landfilled, are closing. According to the nonprofit Recycle across America, a major recycler recently closed 25% of its plants. Over one thousand centers have shuttered in California since 2021.

Undoubtedly, confusion about what is recyclable and which things are not is widespread. Making matters worse is the fact that recycling rules are different from place to place. 

To help you navigate recycling dos & don’ts more effectively, here are lists of things that are not recyclable even though you might think they are, and things that are recyclable even though you may think they are not. Be prepared for some surprises! 

10 surprising things you think are recyclable but actually are not

After analyzing many recycling guides from municipalities around the country, here’s what’s not generally recyclable. Check with your local department of solid waste to see if it is or isn’t recyclable in your area before loading your curbside bin.

Compostable dinnerware. The terms compostable and recyclable are not interchangeable. Neither is biodegradable dinnerware recyclable. In fact, some things marked biodegradable are not really biodegradable. And what’s compostable breaks down only under industrial conditions—not your backyard compost pile. 

Glossy store receipts. They may look like paper, but if they’re slippery to the touch, they’ve been coated with BPA. Technically, it’s called thermal paper, and it jams up recycling machinery. Since BPA is an endocrine disruptor, avoid touching it, too. 

Colored plastic. Commonly found in laundry detergent bottles, the bright red, green, or blue color contaminates the whole melted batch of plastic during recycling. Companies opting to purchase recycled plastic want white or clear only. Same reasoning applies to colored paper.

Single-use coffee cups. There is a plastic layer that makes the cups waterproof. It’s too costly to separate the paper and plastic layers, so these will be landfilled. Same goes for plastic-lined paper bags holding bulk foods. Don’t be fooled by their eco-friendly appearance. Peel away layers to be sure.

Single use plastic bags. Loose bags are flatly rejected because they gum up sorting machines. However, some grocery stores accept a large plastic bag full of them.

Small bits of paper. Anything smaller than your hand – even if it’s white and non-laminated – will likely get stuck in recycling machines. Shredded paper is also rejected.

Silicone. Most silicone items come with a recyclable declaration, but are not easily recycled.

Mixed-material clothing. Cotton-polyester shirts or cotton-spandex leggings are common examples. It’s too expensive to separate the fibers.

Beverage cartons. The waxy or plastic coating on the cardboard can’t be recycled. Neither can wax paper or coated parchment paper used for baking.

Plastic straws and cutlery. Without a doubt, plastic straws, knives, forks, and spoons are directly headed to the landfill even if they are technically recyclable.

10 surprising things you don’t think are recyclable but actually are

There may be exceptions to this list so consult your local jurisdiction before throwing it away.

Headphones, earbuds, and chargers. Large retailers like Best Buy and Staples often accept these used items. Alternatively, some major manufacturers do, even offering rebate programs. 

Vape cartridges. There are a few options. Some sellers may offer free products in exchange for used cartridges. Terracycle runs a program for several vape brands. The Department of Drug Enforcement also accepts these items as well as all unused prescription drugs.

Batteries (rechargeable and non-rechargeable). All batteries used in electronics, cell phones, or small appliances are recyclable at designated locations only. Check out the recycling resources below for your options. Do not place them in curbside bins or trash.

Fluorescent lights (including CFLs). Although your local recycler may instruct you to throw these in with trash, they contain a tiny amount of mercury, a neurotoxin. Many home improvement stores accept them. Call to be sure before going.

Cigarette butts. The most common type of ocean plastic pollution, cigarette butts harm marine life upon ingestion. Check out Butts Only Box for more recycling info.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The COVID-19 pandemic generated huge volumes of used plastic PPE. Some individual retailers offer recycling as does Mask Only Box. 

Toothbrushes. Colgate launched a recycling program that accepts oral care products from all brands.

Holiday lights. For spent festive lights on a string, HolidayLEDS offers a recycling program. You’ll get a 10% off coupon for new lights.

CDs and DVDs. GreenDisk will take any electronic media (including VHS tapes) plus their cases. Another option for CD recycling is the CD Recycling Center of America. 

Foam packaging. You can try EPS Industry Alliance for the nearest recycling center.

The recycling symbol and greenwashing

You’re probably familiar with the three arrow-headed lines in green triangular form with a plastic number in the center. Except for plastic #1 and #2, no other type is regularly recycled. Single use water bottles are #1 while gallon milk jugs are #2.

Unfortunately, according to Greenpeace, only 29% of #1 bottles is collected for recycling. After removing the contaminated items, a measly 21% is actually recycled. 

The EPA has asked the Federal Trade Commission to revise this symbol, claiming it misleads. It could lead someone to believe an item is eco-friendly, and, consequently, commonly recycled, when it’s really not. This is called greenwashing.

“EPA believes updates to the FTC Green Guides ‘recyclable’ claims can be a tool to reduce consumer confusion that contributes to recycling facilities receiving many plastic materials that they do not accept and cannot recycle, which adds a financial burden to facilities and taxpayers to haul, process and ultimately incinerate or landfill this contamination,” the EPA commented in a letter to the FTC.

For now, remember plastic that may be recyclable—noted by the notorious recycling symbol—is not necessarily recycled.

Online recycling resources 

If your local recycler won’t accept an item, there could be an online recycler for it. The following two online recycling resources may help you find one.

Michaela DePrince, the renowned ballerina, who was highly respected for her talent and her work as a humanitarian, has died at age 29. A spokesperson announced the sad news via DePrince’s Instagram page on Friday.

“With pain in our hearts, we share the loss of star ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, whose artistry touched countless hearts and whose spirit inspired many, leaving an indelible mark on the world of ballet, and beyond,” the statement began.

It continued, “Her life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength. Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us. She stood as a beacon of hope for many, showing that no matter the obstacles, beauty and greatness can rise from the darkest of places.”

According to a 2018 study, 94% of tap water samples from the U.S. are contaminated with microplastics, the highest level in the world. Another study found bottled water is no purer: 93% of samples from 11 popular brands contain microplastics, each one measuring between 1 micron and 5 millimeters.

Nanoplastics, which are even smaller bits of plastic less than 1 micron in size, are also present in drinking water. In fact, a 2024 study using new technology was able to count microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in water and discovered 240,000 particles—90% nanoplastics—in one liter of water.

“This is orders of magnitude more than the microplastic abundance reported previously in bottled water,” the researchers commented on their findings. The “extraordinary” non-uniformity of the MNPs they visualized sheds new light on our understanding of these ubiquitous contaminants.

The quantity of MNPs in water will continue to escalate—and their size will progressively decrease by continued light and mechanical degradation—as global plastic production increases. 

In fact, that industry produced 441.3 million tons of plastic in 2022, a 1.6% increase over the previous year. Plastic production is expected to grow to a staggering 490.8 million tons by 2025. Over half of it is for single use. These plastics, including the MNPs derived from them, never fully degrade since they are made of indestructible fossil fuels. 

To protect your health from these pollutants linked to a number of serious health conditions including cardiovascular diseases and gut microbiome disruption, you may wonder if there’s a water filter that will remove them. 

The short answer is that one type of water filter removes microplastics. It is only somewhat effective in removing nanoplastics.

Fortunately, there is another way to rid drinking water of MNPs, and it doesn’t rely on plastic filters.

Water filters and microplastics

Despite the marketing to the contrary, there is no water filter on the market that will completely remove all MNPs. Any brand that claims otherwise is guilty of greenwashing.

The best water filter that removes the most microplastics contains a membrane filter with a small enough pore size that will trap almost all (99.9%) microplastics measuring 1 micron or larger. LifeStraw products claim to have this capability. Some of their filters will also block nanoplastics down to 0.02 micron. Note that nanoplastics get much smaller than that.

Research on other home water filtration systems showed granular activated carbon, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis methods were not effective as removing microplastics. In fact, systems with granular activated carbon and ion exchange sometimes produced “filtered” water containing more microplastics than the unfiltered water!    

Water distillation and microplastics

Water distillation is the only way to separate water from MNPs. As water vaporizes, all MNPs are left behind in the distillation chamber. The temperature of boiling water isn’t even hot enough to melt plastics, so MNPs stay in solid form at the bottom of the chamber. Purified water vapor travels through the condensation tube where it reforms into liquid water.

An added benefit of distillation is there are no plastic filters or beads like in all other water purification methods. Since these filters aren’t recyclable, they eventually get discarded, producing more plastic waste, eventually resulting in more MNPs. 

The water distiller I have used for over 13 years without incident which I highly recommend is Steam Pure for countertops. Larger units are available. 

Drop by drop, a gallon of pure water collects overnight or while you’re at work from a stainless steel machine into a glass jar. The water never comes in contact with plastic. Equipped with automatic shut off, there’s no need to worry about overheating an empty water reservoir. 

Critics say distilled water lacks essential minerals required for health and tastes flat. The truth is that food—not water—provides these nutrients. A splash of lemon juice will add zest to its taste if desired. 

Boiling water as a way to remove microplastics and nanoplastics

An inexpensive way to remove microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) from water is by boiling. A 2024 study revealed that this method removes 90% of MNPs when the water is hard. Only 25% of MNPs are removed from soft water. 

During boiling, minerals form crystalline structures (incrustants) which encase the MNPs and build up like limescale, similar to what happens in a coffee maker. You remove MNPs when you scrub away the limescale as part of regular cleaning. If you see floating incrustants in the water after boiling, remove them by pouring the water through a standard coffee filter. 

The Aurora, Illinois native was found “outside of a fenced-in area” located near a tractor repair business and a church, the sheriff’s office added.As WRAL reported, “Brame said evidence shows MaGee purchased a rope from a Walmart, where he had stopped for a delivery before his death, but MaGee’s family is skeptical of that information. A search warrant in the case lays out the timeline of MaGee’s last hours, as captured on surveillance cameras. The sheriff’s office used GPS from MaGee’s delivery truck to track his movements before his death.”
Their report continues, “At 4:20 p.m. on Sept. 10, he was seen on surveillance cameras at the Walmart purchasing the rope that was found with his body. Two hours later, he was later seen going into and out of a Hampton Inn on Ruin Creek Road in Henderson. Surveillance cameras at the hotel show he arrived at 6:28 p.m. and left at 6:36 p.m. Surveillance cameras in the area where his body was found show MaGee pull up in his truck and walk toward the direction of the tree where his body was found the next day around 10 a.m.”
In response to the discourse happening on social media, Mike Waters, the district attorney for multiple North Carolina counties including Vance, told the Raleigh News & Observer, “I feel at this point this investigation has been conducted the same way any other suspicious death investigation would be, and they are doing all that they can do.”
The News & Observer reported that his cell phone information will be reviewed by officials and his truck searched as the investigation continues.
Civil rights attorneys are representing the family
Civil rights attorneys Harry Daniels and Lee Merritt, along with North Carolina attorney Jason Keith, are now representing the family as they search for answers. According to a statement from the family’s spokesperson, per CBS 17, said that “authorities told them that they couldn’t view the body and a video posted by a family member on social media went viral overnight.”
“As of today, the authorities haven’t shown us anything proving that this young man with no history of mental illness took his own life,” Daniels added, per CBS 17. “How can the police expect us to take their word for it when they won’t even let this family view the body?”
Civil rights leader Bishop William Barber II is also urging for officers to provide information.
“We must have truth and transparency in this matter. Hanging is not a form of death that can be easily dismissed, particularly here in the South where it has been used as a weapon of terror against Black families for generations,” Barber said, per CBS 17. “I join attorneys Daniels and Merritt as they seek truth and justice for Javion McGee and his family.”
The NC NAACP has also made a statement
Per WFMY, the North Carolina NAACP has stated the following: “The death of Javion Magee is a heartbreaking event that requires the utmost attention from all levels of law enforcement. We demand a comprehensive and transparent investigation to uncover the truth behind this tragedy. As a community, we cannot rest until we have clear answers. The NAACP will stand with the Magee family and will continue to push for justice in this matter, ensuring that every aspect of this case is investigated with the seriousness it deserves.”
Magee’s death has gone viral on TikTok
Several TikToks and X (formerly known as Twitter posts), including those referenced by Brame, have gone viral after focusing on everything from news reporting to speculation about what happened to Magee.

2024 AND WE STILL HAVE CRAP LIKE THIS HAPPENING!? NO, THIS NEEDS TO BE EVERYWHERE. THERE’S ALWAYS CAMS FOR EVERYTHING ELSE, SHOW THE PROOF IF THERES NO FOULPLAY!😡 #JavionMagee #whatsthetruth #hangingin2024 pic.twitter.com/k1UXGoJ2Tf
— The Zenovybe Stream (@TheZenovybe) September 13, 2024

#JavionMagee’s family is entitled to answers to what happened to Javion.
We know from experience that nothing good comes from them withholding information and stonewalling the family. @hendersonNCgov we need answers. NOW. https://t.co/b1ZHZApC0D pic.twitter.com/atStTEn2Oe
— OverwhelminglySickOfThisShit (@imsickoftheshit) September 13, 2024

One TikTok user, @scottieprimpin, identifies herself as Magee’s cousin and posted a TikTok that has now gone viral in which she asks for help.

@scottieprimpin Please help my family in getting Justice for my little cousin #JavionMagee #Henderson #HendersonNC #Chicago #NAACP @ABC News @ABC11 @WGN9Chicago #JUSTICEFORJAVION #SAYHISNAME ♬ original sound – StormiNyte 🌪🖤

The family is questioning what authorities are saying
Candice Matthews, a civil rights activist and state chair for the Texas Democratic Black Caucus who is the spokesperson for Magee’s family, said via The TRiiBe: “How can you say that it was a suicide? We have not even had autopsy report. We haven’t had a full investigation. Now that all of this is out and we’re amplifying the issue, now, all of a sudden, the sheriff has put out a statement and isn’t saying that it is a suicide. Now he’s saying if anyone knows anything to reach out to Crime Stoppers hotline. We’re not going to play this game, sir.”
Matthews also noted that Magee did not have a recorded history of mental health struggles. “So what would make this man hang himself?” she said. “And how he was hung, it was no way that he could have done that himself.”
Per the TRiiBE, Matthews says that the family is calling for transparency and wants government officials to investigate it as a hate crime.
“We demand the Department of Justice to come in and investigate this. We demand the FBI to come in and investigate this as a hate crime,” she said.
This is a developing story with more details to come; if you know anything about Javion Magee’s death, call the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252-738-2200 or the Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925.

Boeing workers walked off the job early Friday in protest against the aerospace giant, marking the first strike since 2008. The action followed disagreements over a proposed four-year contract, with key issues including wages, job security and working conditions.

Hart House CEO Andy Cooper released a written statement to Eater Los Angeles, thanking everyone who supported the plant-based food chain since its inception in 2022. “The response to the product has been incredible, and we thank our committed team, […]