How to Reduce Recycling Contamination
Contaminated recycling is a problem for many businesses across the UK. Throwing away non-recyclable materials in bins used for dry mixed recycling or individual recycling streams (such as glass, paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, or wood) affects the recycling quality, processing, and possibly your waste management costs.
Contamination can occur due to wishcycling – putting rubbish in a bin and hoping it gets recycled without checking if it’s accepted – and various other reasons. Businesses need to minimise and eliminate recycling contamination to improve recycling rates, protect the environment, and save money.
Reducing recycling contamination ensures your business maintains the value of its recyclable rubbish. Discover how to reduce recycling contamination within your organisation and its impact on the environment and waste management systems.
What is recycling contamination?
Recycling contamination is when any non-recyclable materials are disposed of with a recycling stream. They end up in the recycling system where they shouldn’t be, which can cause processing problems. It could be bits of food waste put in a glass recycling bin or general waste in a dry mixed recycling bin, for example.
There are various reasons that contaminated recycling can occur. These include leftover food and liquid waste spilling or leaking onto other materials, poor labelling of bins and waste containers, and confusion about what is recyclable. They can all lead to inappropriate waste being thrown away with recycling loads.
Why is recycling contamination a problem?
The main reason recycling contamination is a problem is that it can mean part of or an entire recycling load, could be rejected. Instead of the materials being recovered and reused they may be sent to landfill or for incineration. These both add to pollution levels and have a much more negative environmental impact.
In some cases, the contaminants can be removed, and the rest of the waste will still be recycled. However, this requires extra time, energy, and resources. It depends on the material too, as food and liquid waste can leak onto paper and cardboard materials, which reduces the quality of their fibres and often means they can’t be recycled.
Some contaminants such as plastic bags and thin plastic films can damage recycling equipment as they may clog the machinery. Dealing with recycling contaminants costs money and you may face an additional charge. This might cover machinery maintenance, landfill tax (if the waste is no longer recyclable), and any additional services required.
There’s also a risk to human health. Workers might be exposed to hazardous materials and other dangerous waste types without the proper protective clothing. This means they may face serious health risks if they accidentally handle the likes of asbestos or chemical waste.
Recycling contamination statistics
The rate of recycling contamination varies across businesses and households in the UK and the wider world. Factors such as the size of organisations, waste types produced, and local authority operations affect the chances of contamination occurring. Get an idea of how big the problem is with these recycling contamination statistics:
- 6% of input material to material recovery facilities (MRFs) was contamination
- 82% of homes in the UK add one or more items to household recycling collections that aren’t accepted
- In total around 40% of household recycling is contaminated in the UK
- About one-fifth of all domestic recycling can’t be recycled in England and Wales due to contamination
- A third of UK households contaminate domestic recycling collections with drinking glasses
- Other items that commonly contaminate UK household recycling bins are foil pouches (by 29% of homes), toothpaste tubes (26%), and plastic film lids (24%)
Tips to prevent recycling contamination
Organisations of all sizes and industries that generate any type and volume of commercial waste should eliminate contamination. This helps improve recycling rates, boost your green reputation, and save your company money. A few simple steps can minimise the risks of contaminated recycling within your organisation.
Use these expert tips for ways to prevent and reduce recycling contamination in your business:
- Clearly label bins – good signs make it easy for staff, customers, and visitors to locate the relevant recycling bins for their rubbish. Consider colour coding bins where possible to reduce any chance of confusion.
- Train staff – educate employees about the importance of separating waste types at the source and using appropriate bins. Outline your recycling policy and explain the environmental and financial impact of contaminated recycling.
- Store bins securely – avoid other people throwing away rubbish in your commercial bins that could cause contamination with secure bin storage. Ideally, place them under a roof to avoid rain and wind affecting your recycling.
- Run a waste audit – see where recycling contamination occurs within your organisation with a waste audit. This should highlight the recycling streams that are often contaminated and with what materials to help you develop a solution.
- Use efficient bin locations – the closer recycling bins are placed to the point of production the likelier rubbish is put in the right bin. If people struggle to find a bin or have to walk too far they’re likelier to dispose of rubbish in the wrong bin. Have smaller recycling bins across your premises to collect waste at the source.
- Wash containers – any recycling that holds food, drink, or liquids such as glass and plastic containers, should be washed out to remove remnants and contaminants.
- Reduce waste – simply producing less waste of any kind minimises the risk of contaminating recycling. Use the results from a waste audit to determine effective ways to reduce commercial waste in your business.
Reduce contaminated recycling
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