Meanings
alternative wish-cycling
- neologismuncountableThe disposal of consumer waste in a recycling bin in the hope of it being recycled, when it cannot or is unlikely to be recycled.
Not only that, but wishcycling is playing a big role in the current global recycling meltdown.
2019 August 30, Jackie Flynn Mogensen, “One Very Bad Habit Is Fueling the Global Recycling Meltdown”, in Mother Jones, archived from the original on 26 Feb 20211 more example
Some new innovative packaging can’t be recycled, but nonetheless ends up in the single-sort bin through what Keegan calls “wish cycling.”
2015 September 19, Eric Roper, “Global shifts put squeeze on Twin Cities recycling”, in Star TribuneSynonyms: aspirational recycling, wishful recycling
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe disposal of consumer waste in a recycling bin in the hope of it being recycled, when it cannot or is unlikely to be recycled.
Origin
Blend of wish + recycling, said to have been coined by Bill Keegan, president of a recycling company.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
wishcycling. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wishcycling
“wishcycling.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wishcycling. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “wishcycling,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wishcycling.
Source: wishcycling on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.