Confused with changes in recycling? It may be easier if you “Know the No” and pay attention to what is not acceptable in your blue bin.
“Commonly, if it’s not listed or shown on our recycling label, then it’s not accepted,” explained Tarkeysha Burton, South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) Education and Outreach Coordinator. “But residents get lost sometimes in what they can and cannot recycle, so we’ve incorporated the ‘Know the No’ concept.”
Here are the top three No’s to keep in mind with your blue recycling bin:
●NO to Plastic Shopping Bags: Bags are easy to collect and pile up quickly. You might think plastic bags would be a good fit in the blue bin, but bags can get caught in recycling machinery at the processing center and damage equipment. To recycle, drop off plastic bags in the container near the entrance of your nearest grocery store.
●NO to Styrofoam, also known as expanded polystyrene: Think of the classic throw away coffee or soda cup, packing peanuts and protective packaging around new TV’s and appliances – it’s all trash! Since Styrofoam cannot be recycled and is not biodegradable, it's best to avoid using this item whenever possible.
●NO to Food-Contaminated Items: While your late-night pizza or Chinese takeout may come in cardboard containers, these types of boxes cannot be recycled because of the food contamination. Any grease or food particles can potentially damage and/or contaminate the other materials that are to be recycled.
Know that not everything you think might recycle has a home in your recycling bin. Understanding what cannot be recycled will help you avoid “aspirational recycling.”
Aspirational recycling is the act of placing items into your blue recycling bin that you believe/hope/think can be recycled, without paying attention to what is not accepted.
“While most people are aware of the importance of recycling and the benefits of recycling, not everyone is paying attention to what is not acceptable in the blue bin,” said Burton. “As we start the new year, resolve to be a better recycler: Keep in mind ‘Know the No.’”
Green Connections is submitted by the South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) managing solid waste and recyclables for residents and businesses throughout Doña Ana County. Contact the SCSWA at (575) 528-3800 or visit www.SCSWA.net.