Throughout the summer, Public Works staff will be inspecting recycling toters on recycling collection day and leaving a door hanger either noting any
contamination or reassuring households that their recycling is looking good. Contamination - which means putting in items that aren't recyclable - increases the costs associated with recycling. Non-recyclable items can damage equipment and, unfortunately, some contaminated loads of recyclables end up having to go to a landfill instead.
Here are common types of contamination:
Plastic bags! Never bag your recycling in plastic bags, and don't place plastic bags in your recycling as they jam up the recycling sorting machines. Instead, the Skokie Target, Jewel-Osco stores and Walmart all offer plastic bag recycling.
Wish-cycling – never place items like broom handles, plastic children’s toys, laundry baskets, windows or mirrors, or other items not shown on our recycling website. Just because you 'wish' an item was recyclable or think it should be doesn't make it so!
Electronics – certain electronics can poison the soil and groundwater. Take them to SWANCC or a SWANCC sponsored electronics recycling event to properly dispose of them.
Click here to see more information on recycling in Skokie!