Lake County went live on social media last week to educate residents about recycling with an emphasis on what not to toss in the curbside bin. The livestream on the county’s Facebook page was part of a continuing local and statewide effort to explain the do’s and don’ts of recycling. The session was interactive and intended to provide answers to common questions. Participants were welcome to ask questions and learn about new guidelines, as well as how to recycle and reuse items that shouldn’t go in your recycling bin, such as shoes, clothing and electronics.
According to the county, a recent audit showed that one of every four items placed in recycling bins is not recyclable through curbside programs. To help reduce contamination in the recycling stream, a statewide task force created new guidelines, which are listed on the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency website and elsewhere.
Walter Willis, executive director of the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County and co-chairman of the task force that includes the National Waste and Recycling Association and Solid Waste Association of North America, discussed guidelines and answered questions on the livestream, focusing on the no’s.
Plastic bags, which can jam machinery and bring recycling sorting facilities to a halt, are at the top of the “no” list. The same goes for other “tanglers” like garden hoses or cords. Clothes, textiles and shoes also should be kept out, as there are other ways to recycle those.