Alexei Volkov
Waste Management provides recycling services for small and medium-sized businesses as well as multi-region businesses. They advise that only the right items, free from contamination, should be recycled. They also recommend checking local programs to confirm what is recyclable in your area.
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What You'll Learn
Recyclable bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard
Bottles
Plastic bottles with screw caps, spray pumps, or pull-up tops that contained food, dish soap, mouthwash, shampoos, conditioners, or other personal care products are recyclable. Plastic bottles should be clean and dry before placing them in the recycling bin. It is also important to keep in mind that not all plastic types may be accepted by local recycling programs.
Cans
Aluminum beverage cans and containers are recyclable and can often be returned to depots for a deposit refund. It is recommended to keep the caps on the bottles, but metal bottle caps should be recycled separately from glass bottles. Additionally, in areas with single-stream recycling, cans should not be crushed before recycling as they become harder to detect during sorting.
Paper
Most residential paper can be recycled, including newspapers, magazines, envelopes with plastic windows, and shredded paper. However, items like paper gift wrap with shiny or laminated coatings are often not recyclable. It is important to check with local programs, as some may have different rules regarding specific types of paper.
Cardboard
Cardboard boxes, such as those used for cereal, shoes, pizza, and detergent, can be recycled. It is recommended to flatten cardboard boxes before placing them in the recycling bin. Similar to paper, it is important to check with local recycling programs to confirm which types of cardboard they accept.
Remember to keep food and liquid out of your recycling and avoid using plastic bags for recyclables. By following these guidelines, you can help ensure that your recyclables find a second life and contribute to a more sustainable future.
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Keep food and liquid out of recycling
Keeping food and liquid out of recycling bins is essential for effective recycling. Food and liquid contamination can render many materials unrecyclable, and it is important to follow these guidelines to ensure that your recycling efforts are successful.
Food and beverage residue can cause issues in the recycling process. Leftover food can grow mould and attract bacteria, rodents, and insects, making materials unacceptable for recycling. Liquids can spill onto paper and cardboard, making them difficult to recycle. It is important to empty, rinse, or scrape out food and beverage residue from recyclables. This can be done with a spatula, paper towel, or by filling the container with water, letting it sit, and then shaking it out. Keeping paper and cardboard dry is also essential, as wet paper and cardboard can be challenging to recycle.
Additionally, it is crucial to keep your recycling bin closed to prevent rain or snow from getting everything wet. This simple step can help ensure that your recyclables remain in good condition and are not damaged by moisture.
It is also worth noting that some materials, such as plastic bags, should be avoided altogether. Plastic bags can cause issues in the recycling process, tangling in machinery and even shutting down entire recycling plants. It is recommended to keep recyclables loose in your bin rather than bagging them.
By following these guidelines and keeping food and liquid out of your recycling, you can help ensure that your recyclables are successfully processed and given a second life. These practices contribute to a more sustainable planet and support local jobs and businesses.
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No loose plastic bags or bagged recyclables
Plastic bags and bagged recyclables cannot be placed in your recycling bin. This is a strict rule as loose plastic bags can cause major issues at recycling facilities. Plastic bags are lightweight and can easily escape from bins and recycling trucks, ending up as litter in the environment. They can also get caught in the machinery at recycling facilities, causing damage, production delays, and costly repairs.
Plastic bags are recyclable but they require special handling. Return them to participating drop-off locations, often found at grocery stores or retail shops. Many supermarkets and shops provide collection bins specifically for plastic bags and plastic film. It is crucial to keep these materials separate from your other recyclables.
Bagged recyclables are also not accepted. All recyclables must be loose in your bin to ensure proper sorting at the recycling facility. Bagged items can also escape from trucks and cause similar issues to loose plastic bags, as well as potentially getting caught in machinery.
If you have small recyclables, such as bottle caps or straws, place them in a clear plastic bag and then into your recycling bin. This ensures they are properly sorted and processed. Always refer to your local waste management service for specific guidelines, as certain materials may have unique handling requirements.
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Check local programs for what's recyclable in your area
It is important to check local programs to confirm what is recyclable in your area. Recycling programs vary from community to community, and your local community's website is often the best place to find information on your specific program. Acceptance can vary between provinces, territories, and local communities.
Some general rules of recycling include recycling bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard. Food and liquid should be kept out of recycling, and plastic bags and bagged recyclables should not be used. It is important to recycle items that are free from contamination to give them a second life and save natural resources.
Waste Management (WM), for example, provides a weekly curbside collection for residential and commercial trash and recycling. They also offer scalable waste and recycling programs for multi-region businesses. WM works with Repreve to contribute to a sustainable future.
Another organization, How2Recycle, encourages members to source recycled content for flexible plastic items to promote the end market of the Store Drop-off stream. They also provide resources for checking if a package is recyclable in your area. After collection, flexible plastic is sold to independent companies and turned into plastic pellets, which can be used for various purposes, such as synthetic lumber or recycled into new film, pouch, or bag forms.
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Recycle items that are free from contamination
It is important to recycle items that are free from contamination. Contamination occurs when non-recyclable material or garbage ends up in the recycling system. This can cause issues as it can interfere with the machinery used during recycling, potentially causing damage or disruption. It can also lower the value of recycled items and make it more challenging to sell them to offset the cost of recycling programs.
To avoid contamination, it is important to rinse recyclables to remove any leftover food bits or residual liquids. Even recyclables that contain food residue such as oil and grease can turn other recyclables into garbage. It is also important to keep food and liquid out of recycling bins and to not put loose plastic bags or bagged recyclables into the bins. Plastic bags can shut down an entire recycling plant.
In addition to keeping recyclables free from food and liquid contamination, it is important to separate different types of materials. For example, paper is often collected separately from other materials, and some items such as pizza boxes that are heavily soiled with grease or cheese are not recyclable. Single-use papers like paper towels or tissues cannot be recycled as the fibres are too small and are often contaminated.
To further reduce contamination, it is recommended to have different openings for different types of recyclables, such as a large square opening for trash, a smaller circular opening for beverage containers, and a thin rectangular opening for paper products. This helps to reduce the number of items accidentally thrown into the wrong stream. It is also important to check local programs to confirm what is recyclable in your area, as what is accepted can vary between different cities and states.
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Frequently asked questions
Waste Management recycles bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard.
No, Waste Management does not recycle plastic bags. Plastic bags can shut down an entire recycling plant, so they should not be put into recycling bins.
No, Waste Management does not recycle food waste. Only items that are free from contamination should be recycled.
