Being a good steward of the environment is at the core of what we do every day through providing safe and sustainable waste and recycling collection services. That is why we are doing our part to help ensure more recyclables have a better chance of actually being recycled into new products. Choose us for recycling and curbside trash services!<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/12″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” 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* When in doubt, throw it out. * (Sometimes the best recycle tip is to not try to recycle everything!)<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”]
It is important all stakeholders in the recycling process understand the \u201cwhy\u201d behind our recycling programs.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]
The answer to this question is not simple and includes such topics as the industry\u2019s transition from dual-stream to single-stream recycling collection programs, the lack of domestic processors, volatile commodity markets, international trade, the growing volume of single-use containers, and human behavior. But the one common thread in each of these topics is the impact contamination has on the long-term viability of recycling programs.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”3%” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n
There are two primary forms of recycling contamination; source-generated and process-generated. Most people can easily identify and understand the problems of source-generated contamination. These are items placed in the recycling cart that plainly shouldn\u2019t be there, like food waste, baby diapers, yard waste, and electronics (see below for a more inclusive list). This type of contamination accounts for approximately 20% of what is placed in the average household recycle cart. So that means, on average, one of every five items placed in a recycling cart should not be there and is jeopardizing the future of the other 80%.\u00a0Contamination degrades and devalues the highly recyclable items (paper, cardboard, plastics, tin, and aluminum cans), increases the time and cost to process them, and often ultimately results in the desirable materials being landfilled.<\/b>\u00a0This is why you may have heard the recycle slogan,\u00a0\u201cWhen in doubt, throw it out.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
The second form of contamination (process-generated) is less well-known and, for that matter, much less talked about. Process-generated contamination is the result of low-value and\/or difficult-to-process recyclables (i.e. broken glass and plastic bags) making their way into the bales of sorted recyclables. It is primarily a result of the single-stream recycling process.<\/p>\n
Single-stream collection allows residents to commingle the various types of recyclables into large 95-gallon carts for curbside collection. The commingled recyclables (and any contamination) in the carts are dumped into a collection truck, compacted for operating efficiencies, and then delivered to a material recovery facility (MRF), a.k.a. recycle sorting facility. The sorting is conducted with large, complex machinery and manual labor.\u00a0Because the commingled materials have been compacted by the collection trucks, dumped on a concrete floor, and then handled by large industrial front-end loaders before the sorting process even begins, any contamination (think food waste and diapers) and broken glass are thoroughly mixed and embedded into the fibers of the desirable recyclables (think paper, cardboard, and plastics).\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”3%” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]