What is contamination?

Contamination refers to any material(s) that your Material Recovery Facility (MRF) does not accept. It can consist of food waste, dirt/mud/oil, or even different types of plastic (i.e. grocery bags, PVC, Styrofoam, etc.). Recyclables that have been contaminated unfortunately go to the landfill which is why we have our rules and policies in place to ensure your recyclables are as clean and free from said contamination as possible.

To be sure you're not inadvertently contaminating your recycling, be sure to check your location page to see what items are accepted and not accepted in your area.

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If you've checked your location page and other accepted/not accepted items articles and still can't find an answer if the material is recyclable, please reach out to our Customer Experience team by submitting a support form.