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Common Oops! items and issues

Plastic inside green organics cart
  • Plastics contaminate the final compost and prevent it from being used for agriculture.
  • Plastic dog waste bags and garbage bags are not compostable. Only certified compostable bags, paper bags or newspaper should be used. 
  • Food must be removed from plastic containers or bags before placing in the cart.
  • Note: biodegradable does not mean compostable.
Overfilled or heavy carts
  • Carts must not be overfilled. Overweight carts can break or fall into the collection truck during collection.
  • Overfilled carts and open lids lead to materials blowing away and creating litter.
Incorrect materials inside blue recycling carts
  • Recycling should not be bagged and all materials should be loose in the blue cart, except for bundled stretchy plastic and shredded paper which should be in clear bags. 
  • Multi-material items are garbage (e.g. bubble-wrap/paper shipping envelopes, metal/cardboard coffee tins, mixed-material toys or cutlery). These cannot be separated at sorting facilities and should be placed in the garbage.
  • Polystyrene (StyrofoamTM) packaging should not be in your blue cart as it easily breaks apart and causes contamination. White packing polystyrene foam can be brought to the Recycle Depot.
  • Plastic lids smaller than your palm and other tiny plastic items are garbage. These are too small and light for sorting equipment.
Recycling not prepared properly
  • Recyclable containers must be empty.
  • Food should be rinsed out before recycling (e.g., no berries left in clamshells).
  • Place empty, clean cups in the blue cart, and lids and plastic straws go in the garbage.
  • Loose, stretchy plastic needs to be bundled together (e.g. grocery bags and toilet paper overwrap). These must be bundled and tied into one clear bag.
Electronics & household hazardous waste
  • These items pose safety risks to collection crews and staff at sorting facilities. They may cause fires, get tangled in equipment, or stop sorting lines.
  • You can bring electronics and household hazardous waste to the Recycle Depot for safe disposal.