It may seem like such a small detail – a wrong item in the recycling bin – but it represents a global problem that’s preventing thousands of tons of recyclables from ever seeing a second life.
Things to Know:
- 1 in 4 items placed in a recycling bin is not recyclable. Those non-recyclable items are called “contamination”.
- Every ton of material received at Waste Management contains about 450 pounds of contaminates.
Single stream recycling (also known as “fully commingled” or "single-sort") recycling refers to a system in which all paper fibers, plastics, metals, and other containers are mixed in a collection truck, instead of being sorted by the depositor into separate commodities (newspaper, paperboard, corrugated fiberboard, plastic, etc.) and handled separately throughout the collection process.
Help us Recycle Often. Recycle Right.®
For more information on recycling, visit the Recycle Often Recycle Right website.