What Makes an Item “Recyclable”?
What makes an item “Recyclable”?
Many factors contribute to an items recyclability and acceptance at recycling centers. It is important to follow recycling rules and only recycle accepted items at the WWRA. An item’s recyclability considers…
…Its ability to travel through an MRF (Materials Recovery Facility): Recyclables need to be at least 1-2 inches in diameter to make it through the sorting process. Smaller items could end up as litter or could damage machinery. Tanglers, like rope, plastic bags, Christmas lights, and hangers also cannot travel through an MRF. These items can get tangled in our recycling equipment and cause costly damage.
…Its safety: Tanglers, bagged materials, and hazardous materials pose risk to our workers. Hazardous waste, including needles, paint, household cleaners, and electronics pose an obvious risk to our workers, but they aren’t the only threat when we recycle incorrectly. Bagged recyclables can hide sharp objects from our workers, and tanglers can get tangled in our machinery. Make sure you recycle right to protect our workers who hand sort recycling.
…Its ability to have its materials reused: After the collection, sorting, and baling process at the WWRA, recyclables are sold to recycling facilities. There, specialized processes break down the items into their materials to be reused in a new product. If an item cannot be broken down, or the process is too expensive for the recycling facility, there is no market for it. The WWRA would not be able to find a company that would purchase the baled material for recycling. These hard-to-recycle items include thin plastics, foil lined packaging like potato chip bags, and items with mixed materials.
…Its purity: Much of an item’s ability to have its materials reused is based on the purity of the item. If an item has food or product residue on it, its value and purity decreases. If a plastic product is made with less virgin materials than recycled materials, it has a low level of plastic purity and is less likely to be recyclable. Examples include plastic cutlery, plastic bags, and foam.