Tips to Reduce Recycling and Organics Contamination
Did you know that recycling and organics services are designed to manage specific items such as bottles, cans, paper, cardboard, plant debris, and food scraps? Putting non-recyclables or non-compostables items in the recycling or organics containers contaminates them. If the container has too much trash, it can’t be recycled or composted. Please keep trash out of the recycling and organics containers.
These Three Offenders Always Go in the Garbage!
Flimsy/soft plastic, including bundled plastic bags and plastic wrap.
Tip: Bundled plastic can be recycled at most retail stores. Here are a few drop-off locations: Safeway, Lucky’s, Sprouts, Walmart, Target, Kohls, and Best Buy.
Polystyrene/foam plastic, such as foam takeout food containers.
Coated paper, such as paper plates, paper cups, paper takeout containers.
LANDFILL
NO recyclables
or compostables.
To go containers &
microwavable food trays
Food &
drink packaging
Household items
Hangers/wires (tanglers), clothes, diapers/pet waste, toys,
dishware & furniture
RECYCLABLES
NO food or liquids.
NO mixed material packaging
or plastic bags.
Dry paper &
cardboard
Glass & metal
Food & beverage containers
must be empty
Plastic
Rigid containers – Size must be
at least 4 inches and must be empty
COMPOSTABLES
NO liquids, glass, metal.
NO plastic of any kind, including
biodegradable / compostable plastic.
Food-soiled paper &
shredded paper
Plant debris &
untreated/raw wood
Food scraps