There remain skeptics among us who aren’t convinced that the materials put into recycling carts and left curbside are indeed recycled and go on to a to be used to make new products. WM of Arizona is very clear on this subject: Recycling with WM is real.

WM supports this statement with transparency into our processes for recycling collection, sorting and processing, and only working with reputable recycling partners. When customers Recycle Right with WM, their recyclables are collected, sorted, and compacted into huge bales that move on to be made into paper pulp, plastic pellets and metal sheets of raw material that are in turn used by manufacturers to make their new products.

 

Here are just some of the products your recyclables can be made into:

• Cardboard = new corrugated cardboard boxes, paperboard cereal/cracker/cookie boxes, paper towel tubes, tissues boxes, beverage cartons, pizza boxes, etc.

• Paper = new cardboard, paperboard, newsprint, office paper, envelopes, tissues, paper towels, etc.

• Plastic = new plastic film/sheets, food and beverage bottles, storage containers, carpeting, fabric, clothing, backpacks, etc.

• Metal Cans = New food and beverage cans, car parts, window frames, wire, tubing, electronic parts, etc.

There remains one aspect of community recycling programs that is undisputed but often misunderstood or misconstrued. The statement “Not all the materials put into recycling carts gets recycled,” is true. But wait! This is true only because not everyone is following the rules. On average, 20 percent of the items put into curbside recycling carts are NOT on the list of accepted materials. This means about 1 out of 4 items put into recycling are "contamination” and cannot be recovered for reuse.

It's important that we follow the rules to keep the recycling stream clean. Only recycle clean cardboard, paper, metal cans, glass bottles and plastic containers shaped like bottles, jars, jugs and tubs. It it’s not on this list, it belongs in the donation pile or the trash.

Roger Ahumada

Waste Management

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