Recycling contamination is a big problem in our County and nationwide. The three most common contaminants in recycling carts are:
• PLASTIC BAGS
• FOOD WASTE
• TANGLERS (twine, garden hoses, holiday lights)
These items do not belong in a recycling cart and have multiple negative impacts including contaminating clean recyclables, interfering with sorting processes, driving up processing costs, and damaging recycling equipment.
With funding provided by The Recycling Partnership, all three of the County’s residential recycling haulers are working together to educate residents through cart tagging. Education is focused on two things:
1. eliminating plastic bags in recycling carts, and
2. encouraging residents to place the correct items in recycling
If you have questions regarding any outreach you have received, or would like outreach in your community, please contact the County’s recycling hotline or your hauler.