Recycling is a beautiful way to reduce the size of your carbon footprint on our planet, and it continues to increase in popularity. According to the U.S. Census, the national recycling rate has gone from under 7% in 1960 to a rate of 32%. Sustainable waste management ensures materials are reused instead of taking up landfill space. However, recycling contamination is a common problem that residential curbside recycling programs continue to see. This article will review how to avoid this common pitfall.
Recycling Knowledge
The first step in reducing recycling contamination in residential curbside programs is to educate yourself. Contact your residential recycling program to ask what items are accepted. If you’re unsure what to recycle, always ask before throwing it in the recycling bin. Most companies will happily tell you about common mistakes that lead to recycling contamination so you can avoid them.
Know Your Numbers
Most assume the triangle on plastic items, such as the one on the bottom of laundry detergent containers, indicates an item is recyclable. However, this is a common misconception. The triangle signals that the item is made from plastic. The number inside the triangle indicates what type of plastic the item is made from, and some recycling centers don’t accept certain types of plastic. Learn which numbers are recyclable. You can also ask a local residential recycling service for more information.
Clean Recyclables
Recycling contamination occurs when recyclables are mixed with items that cannot be recycled, including liquids or powders. For example, a laundry jug that still has laundry soap in it can contaminate everything in the recycling bin. Take the time to clean items that are being recycled properly. Rinse out empty jugs and bottles. Shake things with powder in them to ensure they are clean, too.
Local Guidelines
Many people assume that if an item is recyclable, it will be recycled by a residential recycling program. However, some plastics are more challenging to recycle than others. Some companies don’t accept certain materials, even if they can be recycled. Check local regulations to determine what you can put in your bin. You can also ask a local company if they accept certain materials or items.
Many customers throw everything in their recycling bin, thinking it will be recycled, but this doesn’t always happen. Instead, this results in a slower recycling process, and many things must be thrown out due to contamination. Contact Tiger Sanitation today to learn more about our residential curbside recycling program.