Have you ever rolled your recycling cart to the curb, only to find it still full at the end of the day? It’s frustrating, but it usually happens for one important reason: contamination.
Simply put, if your recycling cart contains trash or prohibited items, the recycling crew will not collect it.
Recycling facilities are designed to process specific materials like clean cardboard, paper, plastic bottles, and metal cans. When non-recyclable trash ends up in the bin, it can:
- Contaminate an entire load: A bag of garbage can ruin a ton of good recyclables, sending everything to the landfill.
- Damage sorting equipment: Items like plastic bags, textiles, and hazardous waste can jam and break expensive machinery.
- Create safety hazards for the workers at the recycling facility.
Remember: A recycling cart with trash in it is considered contaminated and will be left at the curb by the recycling crew.