SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): Leading waste recycling services provider, Republic Services Inc., has urged residents to pay more attention while recycling, so as to prevent contamination of any sort. The mixing of non-recyclables with recyclable materials defeats the whole purpose of recycling, it noted.
Ben Pearson, general manager of Republic Services for Bloomington and western Indiana noted that the most commonly occurring contaminants include pizza boxes, Styrofoam, plastic bags and electronics. The recycling centres could not be able to recycle recyclables in closed bags. In addition, wet or unclean items too tend to contaminate the entire recycling loads, he added.
The presence of chemical containers and batteries along with recyclables poses risks to workers who handle them in recycling centres. The City offers hazardous waste disposal centers, where residents could drop off their unwanted batteries and other hazardous materials.
The rise in contamination may force vendors to reject Bloomington’s waste. As per data, Bloomington’s diversion rate has dropped significantly from around 32.1% in 2018 to almost 30% in 2022.
A proper awareness needs to be created at school level, by making the kids realize the importance of recycling and doing it in the right manner.
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