Should I Separate My Recyclables?
According to EPA statistics, Americans create several million tons of garbage every year. Curbside recycling for homes and businesses reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills while simultaneously also reducing the amount of raw materials needed to create new products. However, as a resident or business owner, you may not know the correct way to recycle. Every municipality is different, although there are a few general guidelines for recycling that everyone should follow.
General Answer: Yes
Especially for businesses, the answer to the question, “Should I separate my recyclables” is yes. Often recycling companies require at the very least that you separate paper and commingled recyclables into separate bins or containers. The amount you must separate your commingled recyclables depends on the recycling company and your city or county’s recycling requirements.
What Does “Commingled” Mean?
As it applies to recycling, the term “commingled” refers to recyclables like glass, aluminum and tin. Many curbside recycling companies will accept “commingled” recyclables together in one bin rather than requiring them to be separated out into individual bins. Allowing residents to mix these items together makes it easier for them to recycle because it’s less work. Items are then separated at the recycling plant. Recycling requirements may be different for businesses, however. Because businesses generate more waste, recycling companies may require that companies separate glass and aluminum, for example, rather than allowing them to be recycled together, as they often do for private residents.
Check with Your Municipality
If you aren’t sure whether or not you can mix your recyclables, contact your local municipality for guidelines. They will have a list of items that you are allowed to recycle, and they will often have a list of prohibited items as well. Some municipalities allow you to commingle all of your recyclables including paper while others are very specific about how your recyclables must be separated and put out on the curb. You should follow the directions of your municipality. If you break the rules, the city may have the right to stop picking up recycling from your residence as well as issue you a fine for recycling improperly.
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