Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): El reciclaje de cartón es sencillo; las latas van en otro contenedor. - Cardboard recycling is simple; the cans go in another container.

Spanish often prefers a definite article + abstract noun to talk about an activity in general. El reciclaje de cartón es sencillo = “Cardboard recycling is simple.” You could also say Reciclar cartón es sencillo (“Recycling cardboard is simple”) using the infinitive; both are correct, but the original chooses the noun.

Why is it de cartón and not del cartón or para cartón?

de cartón classifies the type/material (“of cardboard”), with no article because it’s talking about the material in general.
del cartón (“of the cardboard”) would refer to specific, previously mentioned cardboard.
para cartón (“for cardboard”) is fine when labeling a bin’s purpose: contenedor para cartón.

Why is cartón masculine and singular here?

Cartón is a masculine noun (hence el cartón). It’s singular because it refers to the material as a mass noun. You’d use the plural cartones to talk about separate pieces/sheets/boxes of cardboard.

Is there a rule that makes reciclaje masculine?

Yes. Nouns ending in -aje are typically masculine: el reciclaje, el garaje, el paisaje, el reportaje.

Why is it es sencillo and not está sencillo?

Ser describes inherent or general qualities. Es sencillo states a general fact about the process. Estar sencillo would sound off here; estar is for temporary states/locations.

Is sencillo the same as fácil or simple?

They overlap.

fácil = easy (low difficulty).
sencillo = simple/straightforward, also “single/plain” in other contexts (e.g., habitación sencilla).
simple = simple/plain; can sound a bit more neutral or technical. Any of the three would be understood here.

Does van literally mean “go”? Why use it for cans?

Yes, van is “they go,” from ir. In instructions and classifications, Spanish uses ir to mean “belong/go in”: Las latas van en… = “Cans go in… (the right place for them is…).” Alternatives: se ponen, se tiran, se echan, se colocan.

Why en after van and not a?

van en (un) contenedor = they go in/inside a container (final placement).
van a (un) contenedor = they go to a container (destination/motion).
For sorting rules, en is the usual choice. If you highlight the destination, a is possible: Las latas van al contenedor azul.

Why use the article in las latas? Could it be just Latas van…?

Spanish typically uses the definite article to refer to a category in general: Las latas = “cans (as a class).” Dropping the article (Latas van…) sounds telegraphic. You could also say Las latas de metal… if you want to be more specific.

What does otro mean here, and why not otra?

Otro agrees with contenedor (masculine). Otro contenedor = “another/different container.” Don’t say un otro contenedor; Spanish uses otro without an article, though you can say otro contenedor más (“one more container”).

Could it be plural: otros contenedores?

Yes, if you mean cans go in other containers (plural) or there are multiple correct bins. The singular otro contenedor states the general idea “a different bin (than cardboard),” without specifying how many.

Why a semicolon? Could I use a period, colon, or a connector?

The semicolon links two closely related independent clauses. All of these are fine, with slight stylistic differences:

Period: …es sencillo. Las latas…
Colon (explanation): …es sencillo: las latas…
Connector: …es sencillo; sin embargo, las latas… / …es sencillo, pero las latas…

What does contenedor mean in Latin America? Any common alternatives?

Contenedor can mean a recycling bin or a large container. Common regional alternatives:

Mexico/Central America: bote (de basura), basurero
Río de la Plata (Argentina/Uruguay): tacho
Colombia/Ecuador: caneca
Chile: basurero, contenedor
All are understood; for recycling, contenedor or bote de reciclaje are common.

How do I pronounce the tricky parts?

reciclaje: reh-see-KLA-heh (the j = English h in “house”; ci = s sound in Latin America).
cartón: car-TÓN (stress on the last syllable; written accent).
latas: LA-tas.
contenedor: con-te-ne-DOR (stress on the last syllable).
Note: In most of Latin America, ll in sencillo sounds like English “y”; in parts of Argentina/Uruguay it can sound like “sh/zh”.

Why not están en otro contenedor instead of van en?

Están en describes current location (“are in”). The sentence gives a sorting rule (where they should go), so van en (or se tiran en, se ponen en) is more natural.

What’s the difference between reciclaje and reciclado?

reciclaje = the process/act of recycling.
reciclado = the result (recycled material) or a participle/adjective: plástico reciclado. In some regions you’ll see reciclado used as a noun too, but reciclaje is the standard term for the activity.

Can I express this with impersonal se?

Yes, very common for rules/instructions:

Las latas se tiran en otro contenedor.
Las latas se colocan en otro contenedor.
This avoids using ir and sounds instructional.

Does lata mean only aluminum drink cans?

Lata covers metal cans in general (aluminum beverage cans and tin/steel food cans). It doesn’t include plastic bottles (botellas) or glass jars (frascos).

Why does cartón have an accent? Are accents optional?

Accents are mandatory in Spanish. cartón is stressed on the last syllable; without the accent, it would be mis-stressed by default rules. Writing carton is a spelling mistake.

In las latas, is las an article or a pronoun?

An article. It’s the definite article agreeing with latas (feminine plural). It’s not the object pronoun here.

Any false-friend or slang notes with these words?

Yes: lata can be slang for “a drag/bore” in some countries: ¡Qué lata! = “What a pain!” Context makes the meaning clear.

Could I rewrite the first part as an infinitive?

Yes: Reciclar cartón es sencillo. That’s a very natural alternative with the same meaning.