Many of us have grown confused and disillusioned in recent years as we’ve learned that, apparently, everything we thought we knew about recycling was wrong. The word “scam” has been used to describe plastic recycling, which seems appropriate if talking about the way some have hidden behind recycling as a way to dodge corporate responsibility.

Just because we can’t recycle our way out of this whole mess doesn’t mean we should stop doing it when it’s possible.

That’s the question, though. When is it possible? What is recyclable in Connecticut in 2024?

We know now that an item wearing the recycling arrow symbol does not actually mean it should go in the bin.

A reader sent along a question about take out containers, specifically. Are they recyclable?

Yes and no.

Black plastic tubs used to be allowed, but a couple years ago were removed from Connecticut’s list of acceptable items because the scanners used do not identify the material correctly and it ends up contaminating other recyclables.The clear plastic lids are okay to recycle.

Those paper pail takeout containers probably could be, but Connecticut says no; my guess about this is that so much cleaning of food residue has to happen and it’s unlikely most people are going to make that effort. Easier to say no than to deal with machines getting clogged and other materials soiled.

Styrofoam is a big no.

This alone is a good argument for municipal compost collection and restaurants switching to compostable containers.

Dining in and bring your own reusable container is an option for some, but not every restaurant has seating. A place I love that just stopped using the black plastic containers is one of those. Their seating is sparse, though they are in the process of expanding to a more sit-down than take-out restaurant.

Just as those scanners can’t read the black plastic take-out tubs, they also can’t “see” black plastic garden plant pots or trays. The red, green, and white ones they can distinguish.

This one has an easier solution: bring back the empty pots to the person who sold you the plants. Ask the vendor when you’re buying if they take back empty containers for reuse. Some of the big box stores take them back, along with other items, like plastic bags, which can be recycled but are not allowed in Connecticut’s recycling bins.

It’s not so much that something can’t be recycled — it’s more that it’s too much trouble with automated systems, sensitive machinery, and so much more stuff than ever before.

So, how to know?

For the basics, use the “Can I Recycle It?” tool on the RecycleCT website, and look to see what they say to do if the answer is no. This site has been updated to reflect current policy changes while municipal websites are likely to be lagging with that information.

There are other recycling programs besides what our taxes cover. ReCORK takes back wine corks at various locations; Total Wine in West Hartford is probably the one most readers would be using, but check the map to see what’s near you. TerraCycle has a few free options; most are restricted by brand, but others are more general like cigarette waste and razors. There are also places that function as TerraCycle collection sites. Eco Evolution in Norwalk is one, and as of publication they have boxes for plastic razors, razor heads, and the packaging those razors came in; dried out markers, glue bottles, and glue sticks; credit cards and other small plastic cards (gift cards); coffee bags; oral care products and their packaging; plastic straws; Ziploc bags; smart phone cables; and e-cigarette waste.

If that all feels like a lot of work, we can ask ourselves instead how we can reduce our consumption so that there is less hanging over our heads, or as the case may be, turning up in our waterways.