Know what to recycle and what to throw out

All Chester County recyclers use single-stream recycling, which means consumers can mix plastics, cardboard, paper and glass.

But at the processing facility, the different types of recyclables must be sorted and separated. Much of it is done manually. This type of processing leads to a higher level of contamination which can lead an entire load to be eliminated and landfilled. Throwing a pizza box in recycling could lead to perfectly good recyclables ending up in the landfill.

Officials at Southeastern Chester County Refuse Authority say the viability of recycling is in jeopardy because consumers are putting too many non-recyclables into the recycling bin. Recycling properly, they say, not only will extend the lifespan of the SECCRA landfill, but will be beneficial to the environment.

Recyclables which are not acceptable: • Scrap metal • Small plastic bags used by retailers • VHS tapes • Needles or syringes • Window panes, mirrors, ceramics and Pyrex dishware

• Stickers or address label sheets

• Batteries, cell phones, computers

• Paints, pesticides, oil and cleansers

• Motor oil or antifreeze containers • Pizza boxes • Organic material and food waste

• Waxed paper or waxed cardboard • Styrofoam of any kind • Plastic caps • Hard-cover books Plastic and food beverage containers labeled as 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 are excellent for recycling. However, larger items, such as a 5-gallon bucket, even with these numbers, are unacceptable. Just because it has a recycling stamp on it does not mean it can be recycled at the local facility.

On good recyclable items, there is no need to remove paper clips, stamps, address labels, staples, metal fasteners, cellophane address windows, rubber bands, spiral bindings and plastic tabs.

Recycling plants in Chester County are set up for a certain type of material. Adding things not on this list adds to contamination, officials say.

Most important is that all containers must be clean and dry when dropped into the household recycling bin. Jars or bottles not cleaned out often lead to an entire batch of good recycling material being sent to the landfill, where they will remain in the earth for thousands of years.

FRAN MAYE - MEDIANEWS GROUP Heavy machinery is used to move recycling into a huge container at the Southeastern Chester County Recycling Authority outside of West Grove.