To celebrate Earth Day this year on April 22, raise your game with recycling to reduce contamination of the recycling waste stream.
Recycling contamination can be anything other than what is intended to be collected and recycled, including unwanted substances such as residual food or liquid. A contaminated item in the recycling container can come into contact with other recyclables, and potentially contaminate an entire container or worse yet an entire truck load.
Try the following tips this Earth Day and beyond.
Tip #1: Only Place Recyclables in the Curbside Recycling Container
Keep it simple and focus on these four categories of curbside recyclables:
• Paper, including newspapers, envelopes, mail, phone books and magazines
• Flattened cardboard, file folders, poster board and milk cartons
• Plastic bottles and containers
• Aluminum and tin food and beverage cans
Tip #2: Recyclables Should Be Empty, Clean & Dry
Make sure recyclables are empty, clean of any residue and dry before recycling.
Tip #3: When In Doubt, Throw It Out
If you find yourself questioning if something is recyclable, follow the guidance, "When in doubt, throw it out," and toss the items into the trash container. Click here to watch a brief video to help you learn to Know What to Throw.
Tip #4: Know What Should Never be Placed in the Curbside Recycling Container
The items below should never be placed into a curbside recycling container:
• Food waste
• Clothing, shoes and other textiles
• Yard waste, plants, grass clippings, cords and garden hoses
• Styrofoam, fiberglass and other foam packing material
• Disposable diapers and puppy pads
• Tissue, paper towels, paper napkins and hardcover books
• Treated or contaminated wood, sheetrock or drywall
• Metal, such as chains, tools and car parts
• Electronic devices and equipment as well as batteries, fluorescent bulbs and ballasts.
So this Earth Day, let's all commit to doing more to help our environment and our community.
To learn more about Arlington Landfill, visit us online at http://arlingtonlandfill.com/.
Related Article: City of Arlington Spring Cleaning Disposal Tips
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