Working at the Mecklenburg County Waste Management Wipe Out Waste Booth at the Spring Show I heard more than a few citizens of Charlotte that are confused about how to put items in these cans. One of the things this year is a focus on recycling correctly. DO IT RIGHT!
Gray Cans....AKA trash roll out always should have bagged items only in it.
Green Cans...AKA our Recycling Cans Should NEVER have any BAGGED items or plastic bags in that green can.
It was pointed out the trucks say differently on the side. That is only Partially correct. The truck that tells you to bag is the Garbage truck that is going to the Speedway Landfill. That truck picks up garbage / trash only.
The Recycling trucks although they look similar go to the Metrolina Recycling Facility for processing. Those cans must always contain only household grocery type items recyclables...rinsed and loose in the green can. Pizza boxes? Yes in Mecklenburg County. Bottle caps yes - but must be reattached to the bottle.
Green cans have been coming in with dirty diapers, yard waste, auto parts, and just trash in general.
Take plastic grocery bags back to the stores to turn them in. Those are processed by a different company that can handle the plastic. Our recycling system cannot handle plastic bags.
It cost us tax dollars to sort trash out and haul it to the landfill from the Recycling center...plus the cost of the breakdowns....and potential injury to workers cleaning out the stalled system are increasing. All while the price of bulk recycling commodities markets is going drastically down.
Recycling center is getting a lot of items in to the center that don't belong, and it is crashing the production line for hours sometime, all leading to expense timely clean-outs.
