06/10/2026
🚨 MOST UNWANTED: Dirty Recyclables 🚨
Think before you toss!
One of the biggest contaminants in the recycling stream is dirty recyclables. Items placed in your recycling bin should be clean and empty. That means no jars with food still inside, no containers full of leftovers, and no pizza boxes soaked with grease.
Why does it matter?
Food and liquid contamination can spread to other recyclables during collection and processing, reducing the quality of the material. In severe cases, contamination can cause an entire bale of recyclables to be rejected by manufacturers, sending valuable recyclable material to the landfill.
Before placing items in your recycling bin:
✅ Empty all food and liquids
✅ Give containers a quick rinse if needed
✅ Recycle only the clean portions of pizza boxes (greasy sections belong in the garbage)
A few extra seconds can help ensure your recyclables actually get recycled!