ecotips
Avoid Recycling Contamination S
ince 1990, residential curbside col- lection of recyclable materials has
been available in Collier County. Ini- tially, an 18-gallon bin held unbagged items that a recycling truck driver, on a dual stream truck, sorted out at the curb into two categories—paper and containers. Today’s single stream automated curbside recycling collection and 64-gallon covered cart with wheels eliminates any manual sorting and gives homeowners more space for recycled materials that are taken by Collier County Solid Waste Management to a materials recovery facility in Pembroke Pines. Bagged recyclables are not permitted because trucks dump materials on a tipping floor, which are then placed on a conveyor belt and transferred into a totally automated sorting system.
What is Commingled Contamination? While commingled recycling systems have a number of advantages—increased participation in recycling programs by households and businesses and reduced collection costs—there are significant disadvantages, such as contamination. This can occur when something as simple as a corrugated pizza box or any paper prod- uct, stained with grease or food is tossed in with other recyclables.
Why Commingled Contamination Should Be Avoided
Depending on the level and type of contamination, an entire vehicle load of recyclables could be rejected and sent to landfill, something that must be avoided, not just because perfectly good recycling goes to waste, along with everyone’s separation efforts, but also for environ- mental reasons. Even small amounts of contamination, multiplied by the number of households serviced, pres- ents significant problems.
These Items Should Not Be Put in Yellow Top Containers Garbage bags, yard waste, plastic toys, wire, Styrofoam, clothing, pie tins or foil, electronics and wood or metal should not be placed in yellow top containers. If there is no recyclable triangle on a product, it is not recyclable.
For clarification on recyclable items, call 239-252- 2380, visit
CollierGov.net/recycles or watch youtube. com/watch?v=d2cDqMvA4tw.
Resource: Collier County Solid Waste Management Department, 3339 E. Tamiami Trail, Ste. 302, Naples.
26 Collier/Lee Counties
swfl.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com
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