Tucson recycling rate soars, but contamination rate a big concern

By Paul Ploumis (ScrapMonster Author)

October 13, 2015 09:10:48 AM

TEMPE (Scrap Monster): Tucson, Arizona has reported high recycling rates, but contamination rates too have surged significantly, says official at the city’s Environmental Services Department.

The city recorded 90% recycling rate, whereas the recycling rate at the outside city area was even higher at 92%. However, the contamination rate stood at 20%. This essentially means that one-fifth of the materials dropped in recycling bins should have actually gone to dust bins. The city’s contamination rates are significantly higher when compared with the industry standard rate of 15%.

According to ReCommunity Inc., recycling service provider since 2012, the high contamination rate leads to stoppage of recycling activity at plants. They are being forced to halt the operations almost every three hours to remove contaminants such as plastic bags, garden hoses, ropes and cords that may jam the equipment. Reduction of contamination rate could help the company to achieve better processing rates. Currently, the facility processes nearly 200 tons of recyclables per day.

Studies indicate that contamination rates have gone higher significantly from 7% in 2007 to as high as 16% in 2013. The rates have more than doubled in the past eight years. It also noted that plastic bags are the biggest contributors of contamination in Tucson. According to ReCommunity Inc., consumer education campaigns could make a big difference to the present scenario. In addition, authorities must implement fees or ban on plastic bags in order to discourage its use by residents. Though Tucson residents are above average with recycling, there is scope for more improvement.

ReCommunity recovers and processes close to two million tons of valuable, reprocessed, reusable materials every year.