WCC has a strong recycling program built into its sustainability practices, the WCC community is both engaged and active. This semester as students, staff and faculty have returned to campus the Recycle Operations Department wanted to share with you the “Top Ten Recycling Mistakes” on campus.
WCC has a good understanding of items that CAN be recycled (e.g., office paper, bottles and cans, and cardboard), but some confusion about what CANNOT. This can lead to what we call wish-cycling, whereby non-recyclable items get placed in the recycling bin in the hope that they will be recycled. Though the intention is commendable the effect can lead to hazards for the Recycle Team and loss of other recyclable material.
These are the Top Ten items that get placed in recycling bins which cannot be recycled. These contaminants are removed by hand by WCC Recycle staff, who then take the “cleaned” recycling to local recycling facilities.
Please DO NOT Place the Following Items in a Recycle Bin
PPE Masks and Gloves
Place in Landfill Bin
PPE masks and gloves cannot be recycled and potentially pose a hazard to Recycle Staff. Please dispose of your PPE carefully and appropriately in a bin on campus labeled ‘Trash’ or ‘Landfill’
Paper Towels, Tissues, and Napkins
Place in Landfill Bin
Paper fibers from tissues, napkins, and paper towels are not robust enough to withstand the recycling process. The inclusion of them with regular paper reduces the overall quality of the product. In addition, it is safer if operational staff do not have to remove these items from the regular paper recycling. Please place these items in the landfill bin.
Single Use/Disposable Coffee Cups
Place in Landfill Bin
Disposable coffee cups are one of the biggest contaminants in WCC’s recycling. Neither paper coffee cups nor Styrofoam coffee cups are recyclable. If the cup is placed in a recycle bin with coffee still in it, the whole bag of recyclable material is ruined and has to be thrown away! Please try to use a reusable thermos or ceramic mug instead.
Unwashed Food Containers
Disposable food containers made from plastic or glass are recyclable so long as they are clean. A quick rinse of the yogurt pot or salad container before placing it in the recycle bin is the difference between it being recycled or not. Dirty food containers make the sorting process unpleasant and risk the whole bag being discarded.
Unwashed Smoothie/Milkshake/Iced Coffee Cups
Smoothie or Milkshake Cups made from plastic are recyclable so long as they are clean. A quick rinse before placing it in the recycling bin will ensure it is recycled and not thrown out. Partially full smoothie cups in the recycling bin ruin the whole bag and make sorting unpleasant. If you are unable to rinse the cup, please place it in the landfill bin.
Dirty Fast Food Trays, Cartons, and Paper Wraps
Place in Landfill Bin
Technically many of these products are recyclable, however when they have food residue or food scraps in them they cannot be recycled and have to be landfilled. If your fast food containers are greasy, covered in ketchup, or still have food in them please place them in the landfill bin.
Coated paper and lined envelopes
Place in Landfill Bin
To recycle effectively products need to be made from one material. When two materials are bonded together such as envelopes lined with bubble wrap, it is difficult to find a recycler that can process them. ‘Paper only’ padded envelopes which can be recycled are now available at some retailers.
Chip Packets
Place in Landfill Bin
WCC used to have a mail back program for chip packets, that program is no longer viable. Chip packets and similar products should go in the landfill bin
Disposable Utensils and Plates
Place in Landfill Bin
Recycling facilities do not accept disposable utensils because of their size and shape (they fall through machinery) and the large potential for them to have food residue on them. If you are hosting a WCC lunch or event find out more about Zero Waste Services provided by the Recycle Department.
Waxed Cartons, and Plastic Lined Cartons
Place in Landfill Bin
To recycle effectively, products need to be made from one material. When two materials are bonded together, such as paper lined with wax or plastic, it is difficult to find a recycler that can process them. Unfortunately, our current processor has no outlet for cartons or tetra packs so they have to be landfilled.
