Reducing Contamination

Contamination in recycling occurs when:

• Non-recyclable items (like soft plastics, ceramics, or textiles) are incorrectly placed in the recycling bin.

• Recyclable items are dirty, for example, food-soiled cardboard or unwashed containers.

• Items are bagged in plastic, which can’t be sorted and may lead to the whole bag being sent to landfill.

• Mixed materials (e.g. foil-lined cartons or laminated paper) are included, making sorting difficult.

This contamination reduces the quality and value of recyclables, can damage equipment, and may result in otherwise recyclable material being sent to landfill.

Kind regards,
Murphy