Which consumer behavior is most detrimental to recycling efforts?

Mixing non-recyclables with recyclables is indeed the behavior that undermines recycling efforts the most. When consumers place non-recyclable materials into the recycling bin, it contaminates the entire batch of recyclables. This contamination can lead to increased costs for recycling facilities, as they need to sort through the materials to remove the non-recyclables. In some cases, if the contamination is severe, it can result in the entire load being sent to the landfill instead of being recycled. This behavior disrupts the recycling process, reduces the overall effectiveness of recycling programs, and ultimately leads to more waste ending up in landfills.

In contrast, keeping recyclables clean and separate, buying products made from recycled materials, and donating unused items for reuse all support and enhance recycling efforts by ensuring that materials are correctly recycled or reused, thus minimizing waste.