Have you ever heard the phrase, “one bad apple spoils the bunch?” The same holds true for recycling. One non-recyclable item can spoil an entire batch of otherwise good materials. Here are some Single Stream Recycling Guidelines to follow.
Items which CAN be recycled include:
- Plastic bottles and containers
- Glass bottles and containers
- Food and beverage cans and cartons
- Paper which is free of glue, glitter, and/or crayons.
- Flattened cardboard and paperboard. No pizza boxes please as the grease and cheese can become caught in the machinery
Please remember to rinse your plastic, glass, cans, and cartons. clean of any residual food before placing it in the container. A variety of methods help separate the materials as they go through the sorting equipment, so it is extremely important to leave your recyclables loose in the bin. Do not bag them as the bags can slow down the process and foul the machinery.
The following items CAN NOT be recycled:
- Food waste
- Plastic bags
- Propane tanks
- Plastic caps
- Plastic wrap
- Electronics
- Shredded paper
- Polystyrene
The wrong item in the recycling bin can seem like a trivial detail but it really can mean that an entire batch ends up in a landfill instead of being repurposed. Help us ensure that recyclables see a second life by keeping the aforementioned tips in mind.
If you have any questions, please call Waste Management Customer Service Center Toll Free: (800) 633-9096.
Learn more at www.recycleoftenrecycleright.com.