Stay in the Know - Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Join a network of more than 90,000 waste and recycling industry professionals. Get the latest news and insights straight to your inbox. Free.
Pilot Program Helps Reduce Recycling Contamination in Elgin, Illinois
From January 2016 to August 2016, contamination rates decreased between 21.4 percent and 40.6 percent in various neighborhoods in the Elgin area.
1 Min Read
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
In January 2016, the City of Elgin, Ill., and Waste Management partnered for “Recycle Often. Recycle Right.,” a program that is designed to reduce recycling contamination by instilling three behaviors: recycle all empty bottles, cans, paper and cardboard; keep food and liquids out of recycling bins and processing centers; and keep plastic bags out of recycling bins and processing centers.
From January 2016 to August 2016, contamination rates decreased between 21.4 percent and 40.6 percent in various neighborhoods in the Elgin area. The latest rates are being calculated and will be released soon.
Daily Herald has more details:
A pilot program designed to decrease recycling contamination -- primarily from plastic bags -- in Elgin did much better than in other communities served by Waste Management, company representatives told the city council Wednesday.
The city and Waste Management, which Elgin contracts for refuse services, partnered for the "Recycle Often. Recycle Right." program that targeted, in different phases, various neighborhoods beginning in January 2016.
"Elgin has been a great partner," said Vaughn Kuerschner, public sector solutions representative for the company.
About the Author
You May Also Like
.png?width=300&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)