The City of El Paso Environmental Services Department celebrated its first Recycling Challenge graduating class. Dozens of El Pasoans have voluntarily accepted the challenge to help flip the community’s recycling contamination rate from 32 percent to 23 percent by 2023. The national average for recycling contamination is 25 percent.
The graduation ceremony honored approximately 80 residents who earned Black Belts in recycling by completing ESD’s Recycling Challenge. The education-based program launched in June 2021 features three belts – yellow, green and black. The color-coded rankings system rewards participants along their journey to becoming a Black Belt in recycling.
Customers who joined the challenge learned:
- Tips to reduce waste and improve recycling
- Which materials are accepted and not accepted in the Curbside Recycling Program
- Why certain recyclables, such as glass, shouldn’t be tossed in the blue bins, and much more
El Pasoans may still join the Recycling Challenge. Participants earn prizes as they complete educational activities teaching them about materials that belong in the blue bin.