Contaminants in recycling have several adverse effects on the recycling
stream. They jam up processing equipment at recycling centers, which in
turn increases costs associated with recycling, and can pose health and
safety threats to recycling center workers.
DEP reminds public
to clean recycling Further, recycling contamination creates serious
quality control issues at local recycling centers. The co-mingling of
recyclables with contaminants has led to major recycling market
disruptions that have negatively affected the economics of recycling and
has created one of the biggest challenges facing recycling today.
As a result of these challenges, the DEP urges all residents to
participate in their local recycling program and help keep unacceptable
materials out of curbside and workplace recycling bins.
“For
recycling to work, we need to keep our recycling mix clean and free of
such non-acceptable and problematic items,” Commissioner McCabe added.
“It is important to remember that recyclable materials are not trash,
but rather valuable raw materials used to make new products.”
Recycling also helps conserve resources, reduces waste sent to disposal
facilities, helps curb emissions of greenhouse gases, and creates jobs.
The Recycle Right NJ social media campaign is one of several
educational initiatives implemented by the DEP to address recycling
contamination and advance recycling statewide.
Through passage of
a 1987 law, New Jersey was the first state to require recycling. New
Jersey remains a national recycling leader, with one of the nation’s
highest recycling rates.
For details about the Recycle Right NJ campaign, visit www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/recycling/promotools.html.
To learn more about recycling in New Jersey, visit www.recycle.nj.gov/dep.
For more about the DEP’s Division of Air Quality, Energy and Sustainability, visit www.facebook.com/NJDEPAQES/.
Follow the DEP on Twitter @NewJerseyDEP.