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MYTH: It doesn’t matter if something belongs in the recycling cart, the hauler will sort everything anyway.
ANSWER: False.
There are increasing amounts of non-recyclable items sent to Material Recovery Facilities, and all of them must be removed by hand by trained staff or mechanically sorted so they don’t contaminate the high-value recyclables.
Non-recyclable items placed in your recycling containers increase the cost of recycling, slow the process, and pose safety risks to employees.
If you’re not sure whether something is recyclable, throw it in the garbage. Read more of the myths about recycling here and share with your community.
– Stephanie Kissinger, Waste Management
