Like most large cities, Logan has a program where residents are automatically enrolled in curbside services. This includes the familiar black trash bins as well as the blue recycling ones. While most of the items make it into the correct bin, there are some that don’t and this is especially true for plastics. “We have done some studies in the past about contamination in recycling and we find that about 75 percent of our contaminants are bags and films,” said Emily Malik who is the conservation coordinator for Logan city.
Plastic bags aren’t the only problem. Non-recyclable items like greasy pizza boxes, shipping envelopes and styrofoam also slow down recycling centers. And loads that are too highly contaminated get sent onwards to the landfill.
“I think for most people it’s lack of knowledge. It’s the belief that when I throw something away it goes away, it disappears” said Haley Lebsack, the development director for Recycle Utah. She says the lack of convenience and misinformation keep most of us from wanting to recycle.
“Glass recycling, one of the common complaints I get is why can’t it go in my curbside bin, and when glass breaks it can contaminate all of the other items,” she said. “The only way recycling works is if the items are able to be separated.”
Recycling efforts are being cut short because of plastic bags. This is a problem not just for recycling, but also for waste disposal. Hailey Lebsack back in Summit County puts it in perspective when she talks about the expansion of the county’s current landfill. “We’re building a new cell, it will be lined,” she said. “I believe they think that the cell will last about 30 years with their predicted growth and then after that, I do not believe there is a plan.”
There is no simple solution to reducing waste however advocates like Malik and Lebsack believe that recycling can help. They encourage residents to use reusable bags and sort through items before throwing them into recycling bins. They also recommend checking with recycling programs in your area for information about recycling restrictions and services.
Read the full story, visit http://www.upr.org/post/what-load-garbage-waste-managers-report-common-recycling-mistakes.