When prohibited materials such as food scraps are placed in the recycle bin/cart, the improper sorting can degrade the quality of recyclable materials and increase sorting and collection costs due to the additional effort needed to remove these materials. Moreover, valuable resources are lost, and more waste is generated when clean recyclables are mixed with prohibited items, which then must be sent to landfills.
Union City residents and businesses can play a significant role in reducing prohibited materials in recycling. Remember that the best recycling intentions are wasted when prohibited materials are placed in the recycle bin/cart. When we recycle the right things the right way, we not only help our community comply with State and local recycling laws, but we help our economy and the environment by ensuring quality recyclables can be recovered and delivered back into the economy instead of sent to landfills.
You can become an expert recycler by following these simple tips:
Keep recyclables empty, clean and dry. Rinse/wipe food residue and empty liquids from your plastic, glass and metal containers so they can be recycled into their highest and best use.
Keep it loose. Do not bag recyclable materials. Plastic bags can get tangled in or damage sorting equipment at the Materials Recovery Facility where recyclables are sorted.
Know what is accepted in the recycle collection program and only place these items in the recycle bin/cart. Don’t be a “wishcycler.” Throwing an item that you hope is recyclable into the recycle bin/cart does not mean it will get recycled.
Acceptable recyclable materials include:
Clean cardboard (flattened); Paper, mail, newspapers and magazines; Metal pots and pans; scrap metal up to 10 lbs; Shredded paper (in paper bag); Metal bottles and cans; Clean aluminum foil; Glass bottles and jars; Plastic containers labeled #1 and #2.
To learn more about Union City’s recycle, compost and landfill collection program and services, and for useful resources, visit UnionCityRecycles.org www.unioncityrecycles.org. For additional reuse, repair and recycling options, visit StopWaste.org/ReSource.org.
