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Staff member says recycling bins may be removed after three contamination violations
Summary
A staff member described a curbside recycling inspection program that leaves notices on contaminated bins and may remove a household’s recycling bin after three violations in a year; the speaker said the goal is to reduce contaminants, not to shame residents.
A staff member described a residential recycling-inspection program that identifies non-recyclable items placed in curbside bins and leaves residents a notice explaining the contamination.
“If you have three violations over a year, we will remove the bin,” the staff member said, adding that the bin can eventually be returned. The speaker listed common contaminants encountered during inspections, including tires, yard waste, trash bags, food, a car bumper, a microwave oven, gutters, siding and concrete.
The staff member said crews leave a slip of paper on bins noting items that cannot be accepted so residents know to remove them and improve future recycling. “It’s not really to shame people or make people afraid to recycle,” the staff member said, describing the policy as a measure to prevent continued contamination of recyclables.
According to the speaker, the program’s aim is to reduce contaminants so that materials collected through curbside recycling are actually recyclable and processing yields better results. The staff member said interacting with residents through inspections and notices is expected to create a more efficient recycling program and better outcomes over time.
The transcript does not specify which agency or jurisdiction runs the program or where the inspections occur.
