What Cannot be recycled or reused?

Plastics like clothes hangers, grocery bags, and toys aren’t always recyclable in your curbside bin. Other things that aren’t recyclable include Styrofoam, bubble wrap, dishes, and electronic cords.

Can we recycle and reuse plastic?

Even after you’ve already used them, plastic containers can be repurposed afterward and used around the house. Take your old plastic bags and reuse them to carry your groceries. Use your imagination to transform plastic items you’d typically consign to the recycle bin into valuable pieces.

How does mixed waste recycling separate?

At the MRF, all the mixed recycling is sorted and separated into different types of materials by hand or machine (or both) before being sent to manufacturers who make it into new products. Once materials have been sorted, recycled materials become valuable commodities in the worldwide market.

Do they really recycle everything?

Despite the best intentions of Californians who diligently try to recycle yogurt cups, berry containers and other packaging, it turns out that at least 85\% of single-use plastics in the state do not actually get recycled. Instead, they wind up in the landfill.

What happens to things that can’t be recycled?

Non-recyclable materials can cause the equipment to jam up or break down. Items such as plastic bags, hoses, wire hangers and string lights can work their way into the belts and joints of the machinery. Even things like small pieces of broken glass can cause danger as our employees have to hand-pick them.

Why we need to reduce reuse and recycle?

Waste is often an unavoidable result of human activity. Reducing, reusing and recycling waste helps save landfill space by keeping useful materials out. The amount of energy and natural resources needed to produce or collect the raw materials and manufacture the product are reduced.

Can glass bottles be recycled?

Glass bottles and jars are 100\% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without any loss in purity or quality. Over a ton of natural resources are saved for every ton of glass recycled. Energy costs drop about 2-3\% for every 10\% cullet used in the manufacturing process.

What happens to mixed recycling?

The mixed materials are put into recycling collection vehicles and taken to bulking stations. Depending on where you live, your recycling may be bulked at Smugglers Way in Wandsworth, Cringle Dock in Battersea or Cremorne Wharf in Chelsea.

What does mixed recycling mean?

“Mixed recycling” means that the items you normally sort into the blue and green-lidded recycling bins (paper/cardboard and glass/metal/plastic) can be disposed of together. The recyclable materials collected will remain the same but will not need to be separated.