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Recycling Contamination

Explore new strategies to tackle contamination in recycling facilities, affecting safety, quality, and processing. Discover ways to reduce costs and improve materials quality for a sustainable future.

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Recycling Contamination

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  1. Recycling Contamination New Ways to Approach an Ongoing Problem NC SWANA Spring Conference Asheville, NC April 5, 2017

  2. Why Care? Safety.

  3. Why Care? Pricing.

  4. Gross Value of a Commingled Ton Over Time

  5. What is contamination? Affect Safety Affect Quality Affect Processing

  6. The Big picture • Contamination is expensive • NC MRFs facing $7 Million price tag to deal with contamination each year • Recycling Facilities (MRFs) and Communities are in this together • MRFs need to be profitable to survive, they cannot be banks and or insurance companies • Communities need facilities that will accept materials to provide critical services to community recycling programs • End users and manufacturers need high quality, consistent materials • Material quality is a shared problem and this is a partnership in good times and bad.

  7. Things Are Changing • Market conditions have forced a focus on material quality • Evolving ton and new packaging • We depend on a voluntary action from citizens for materials • Contracting from our throw-it-all-in mentality • Attention spans

  8. Waste Management’s List

  9. 3 Steps to Reducing Contamination Inform Strong Outreach Materials: web, print, mail Clear and Consistent Signage Personalized feedback Drop-off: Site Attendants and Staff Curbside: Cart Hangers/Oops Tags Issue Specific Communication Ask your MRF what are the main problems (1-3)

  10. Wake Co Recycling Audits Our one thing: Plastic Bags and Bagged Recyclables

  11. Site Attendants MRF Tour

  12. Inform

  13. Personalized Feedback

  14. Issue Specific Communication

  15. Heather Cashwell Wake County Solid Waste Division (919) 856-6432 Heather.cashwell@wakegov.com

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