Claremont Recycling Contamination

Press release from the City of Claremont:

April 28, 2021

Did you know that up to 30% of the material recycled in Claremont in actually trash? Often with the best of intentions, residents frequently discard items that are not recyclable in their blue recycling bin. This process is known as “aspirational recycling” or “wish-cycling” and is actually less sustainable and more costly than sorting appropriately.

The cost of recycling is increasing across the Country and contamination compounds costs even further. Wet or dirty items, such as unwashed peanut butter jars or yogurt cups, can ruin recyclable items like paper that are in the same load. Items such as plastic bags, plastic film, and plastic toys must be sorted and removed at the recycling facility and then re-routed to the landfill. This results in added processing costs and additional transportation costs and emissions to re-route the material to the appropriate facility.

The best way to ensure an efficient and environmentally sustainable recycling program is to only discard clean, dry, recyclable items in the recycling container. Claremont residents should focus on getting back to the basics by recycling only these basic types of material:

Plastic Bottles, Jars, and Jugs (Resin Codes #1 and #2)

Aluminum and Tin Cans

Mixed Paper and Cardboard

Glass Jars and Bottles

For questions regarding proper recycling, please contact the Community Services Department at (909) 399-5431.

This press release was produced by the City of Claremont. The views expressed here are the author’s own.