EverydayAdvanced
Asking how to sort the trash in English (advanced)
Advanced English for asking how to sort the trash. Key line: “Sorry, I'm still figuring it out—what's the right way to *sort* this *trash*?”
Full script
Lin
Sorry, I'm still figuring it out—what's the right way to sort this trash?
Them
No worries—paper goes there, food scraps there, and plastic in the blue bin.
Lin
Got it. And this coffee cup looks mixed—lid, sleeve, and cup all separate?
Them
Yeah, usually. The lid and cup can split up; the sleeve counts as paper.
Lin
Wow, this banana peel has more identity issues than I do.
Them
Honestly, everyone says that their first week; bins here can be weirdly specific.
Lin
Okay, last check—if it's food but wrapped in plastic, I split it first, right?
Them
Exactly—and if your banana peel looks confused, that's usually the food bin calling.
Key phrases
The lines worth keeping. Read them once before you go out.
figure out
✓ figure it outunderstand it
Means gradually understanding; casual
mixed
✓ looks mixedseems made of more than one material
Common for packaging and cups
split
✓ split it upseparate the parts
More natural in speech than separate
counts as
✓ counts as papergoes in the paper category
counts as = is treated as
Quick answers
figure out: what to say in English
Say “figure it out” — understand it. Means gradually understanding; casual.
mixed: what to say in English
Say “looks mixed” — seems made of more than one material. Common for packaging and cups.
split: what to say in English
Say “split it up” — separate the parts. More natural in speech than separate.
counts as: what to say in English
Say “counts as paper” — goes in the paper category. counts as = is treated as.