A Brief Overview of
CONTAMINANTS: (AKA: What NOT to put in with your recycling!)
Now that American's single
stream recycling processing facility, The
American Recycling Center, is up and running, we thought it was a
good time to thank our customers for all the recyclables they collect! We also
thought is was fitting to remind everyone what should NOT be put in your
recycling bin. We call these items CONTAMINANTS.
Contaminants are defined as items that de-value other single
stream recyclables and/or destroy the machinery used at The American Recycling Center.
Some of these items are recyclable elsewhere, and some must ALWAYS be disposed
of as TRASH.
Please do NOT toss these items into your recycling bin:
WHAT: Plastic Bags & Films
-
Grocery bags
- Bread bags
- Plastic shrink
wrap packaging (such as the wrap on water bottle or bulk paper towel
packs)
- Plastic wrap
- Collection
bags (can liners)*
*Although collection
bags are handy, we strongly prefer that our customers collect recyclables LOOSE
in the bin, cart, or dumpster when possible.
WHY: Plastic
bags and films wrap around the large rotating gears in the recycling sorting
machinery, causing the entire American Recycling Center to shut down until
they are removed!
HOW TO RECYCLE: Bag drop-off locations can be
found at any neighborhood grocery store, Walmart of Target. Plastic bags and
all types of films mentioned above can be recycled, but they must be separated
from other single stream recyclables. They must go to another type of recycling
facility made specifically for recycling plastic bags and films into high
quality decking and benches!
*Good rule of thumb: If you can push your finger through it and it
changes shape or pokes a hole, it is a FILM.
WHAT:
Diapers
(Believe it or not, we HAVE seen them at our facility!)
WHY: Diapers (dirty OR clean) are NOT Recyclable! It is impossible to
reclaim the paper used to make them. Additionally, any personal hygiene product
soiled in human fluids pose a health risk to our employees.
HOW TO
RECYCLE: Currently,
there are no technologies available to recycle the paper and plastic used to
make disposable diapers. Although there are compostable diapers available, for
a slightly higher cost. And of course, the old fashioned cloth diapers are
always an option, although most people find washing them while raising an
infant to be too much trouble. Either way, disposable diapers remain TRASH.
Please do NOT put these contaminants into your recycling bin.
WHAT: Nuts, Bolts, Hangers (Small Scrap Metals)
WHY: Nuts, bolts and wire hangers jam and wrap around the sorting
equipment used in our facility. The sorting machinery has a lot of spinning
rotors. A bolt or hanger jamming any of these rotors can permanently
damage the equipment. It can cause the facility to shut down and in some cases
even cause a fire.
HOW TO
RECYCLE: While we ask you to please keep all scrap metal OUT of your
recycling bin, scrap metal is a valuable recyclable! We encourage you to set
your scrap metal materials (nuts, bolts, hangers etc.) aside and take an
occasional trip to a local metal recycler/scrap yard (you'll be paid for these
items!). Earth911 provides
a great directory of scrap yard facilities in your area.
WHAT:
Chains & Cables
- Holiday Lights
- Wires
- Metal Chains
- Plastic/Wire Cables
WHY: Much like plastic bags and films, chains and cables wrap around
the rotating gears and sorting equipment, damaging the machinery and causing
the American Recycling Center to shut down.
HOW TO
RECYCLE: Many of your local home improvement stores have collection programs for
these items, and trade back programs for holiday lights. Check with your local
Lowes or Home Depot and ask for the details.
