Arizonans need to rethink how they recycle

Recycling as we know it isn’t working anymore.

In the Phoenix metro area, more than 30 percent of what we put into curbside recycling containers doesn’t belong there. These items either aren’t recyclable or are contaminated by food or other residue.

We know our local residents have the best intentions and are trying to do the right thing by recycling their household items. However, items such as garden hoses, plastic grocery bags and even disposable diapers do not belong in Arizona’s recycling containers.

Even when an item is recyclable, like a soup can or a plastic ketchup bottle, any remaining food or liquid becomes a problem. When those items are combined with clean recyclables in the truck, that leftover chicken noodle soup will saturate otherwise good paper and cardboard.

This is known as contamination, and once it happens, perfectly recyclable items become trash. They ultimately end up in a landfill, which is exactly what consumers are trying to avoid when they recycle.

The rate of recycling contamination has been gradually increasing in recent years, mostly because residents are confused about what and how to recycle due to years of changing guidelines. But the problem reached a crisis level earlier this year with the adoption of new quality standards by China, which had been the United States’ largest market for recycled paper and plastics.

How do China’s import policies affect us here in the Valley of the Sun? Until this year, about 40 percent of U.S. recyclables were shipped to China, where they would be repurposed into new boxes, toys or packaging. But the new restrictions are too rigid for our country’s recycling facilities, which operate equipment designed for less restrictive contamination rates. So the recycling market has come to a standstill, with tons upon tons of recycled material stuck here in the U.S., waiting for a buyer.

And if there’s no market for recycled goods, then Arizona’s local recycling programs may need to change.

So, we all need to become better recyclers. That means educating ourselves on both the “what” and the “how” of recycling.

First, we need to know what to throw. There are four primary categories of recyclables: paper and cardboard, metal cans, plastic bottles and jugs, and glass. With bottles and jugs, remember to keep the caps on.

Second, recyclables should be empty, clean and dry. Don’t allow more than 1 teaspoon of liquid to remain in a recyclable container.

Third, keep it loose. Never bag or bundle your recyclables. Items should be placed in the container individually. Why? The sorting process at a recycling center happens quickly, and most of what is bagged or bundled ends up in the garbage because sorters cannot see the contents. Plastic bags are the worst offenders — they never belong in a recycling container.

Other things that don’t belong in the recycling container include yard waste and old clothing – from palm fronds to T-shirts. Clothing that can be reused should be donated.

By following these basic guidelines, you can help do the right thing for the environment and keep Arizona sustainable. For other simple recycling tips, visit recyclingsimplified.com.