To help make recycling more efficient, remember these simple tips:
- Place empty cans, bottles, paper and cardboard in the recycling container. Keep everything else out. Rinse plastic bottles, jugs and tubs, and empty all bottles and cans of liquids before placing them in a recycling container.
- Do not bag your recyclable items for bin disposal. Be prepared to empty your bags of recyclables at the Container Site.
- Do not put plastic bags, cords, hoses and other string-like items in the recycling container as they can tangle around rotating equipment.
- Avoid putting other things that could be hazardous to workers who sort recycling – like batteries, needles, sharp objects and food residue – into the recycling container.
- Do not put Styrofoam cups and containers in the recycling container.
- Numbers don't matter...what we can process does. When it comes to plastic, recycle by shape: bottles, tubs, jugs and jars are recyclable.
- When in doubt, throw it out!
- You are the first sorters - we NEED you to make the right choice.
Remember, your hard work sorting and recycling items will go to waste if the recycling is contaminated. Keep recyclables loose and free - whether in your curbside bin or at your local recycling container site. Tanglers (holiday lights, hoses, cords, etc.) not only contaminate the recycling stream, they also damage expensive equipment and cause safety hazards for the processing center employees. These "tanglers" may be recycled separately, check with your local recycling office.
Recycling is very important! There are billions of people in the world. Our landfills are filling up! We have the opportunity to enhance domestic recycling markets and keep waste out of landfills and out of international waters. It is our responsibility to create jobs in the United States and reclaim resources like paper, plastic, metal and glass rather than making products and packaging out of virgin materials and burying those discarded resources in a hole in the ground (a landfill).