BALTIMORE (WBFF) — The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) is launching its new OOPS tag recycling program, which aims to reduce contamination in recycling bins, improve recycling efficiency and strengthen the city’s environmental sustainability efforts.
Confusion about what can and can’t be recycled has led to more contamination in the city’s recycling stream, according to officials.
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Entire truckloads of materials may be deemed unusable when non-recyclable items or food residue are put in recycling bins. This, in turn, increases processing costs while decreasing the effectiveness of the city’s recycling program, according to DPW.
To address the problem, DPW is putting OOPS tags on recycling bins that contain incorrect or non-recyclable items. Each tag identifies the contamination issue and provides details on how to properly recycle. When a bin gets an OOPS tag, residents are asked to remove the incorrect items before their recycling is picked up on the next scheduled pick-up day.
“By working together, residents can make Baltimore a cleaner, more sustainable City for generations to come,” Matthew Garbark, DPW director, said via press release.
Common contaminants in the city include plastic bags and packaging film, batteries, tangling items such as hoses and wires, textiles and clothing as well as construction and demolition debris. Food residue on containers is also a major source of contamination, officials said.
When recyclables aren’t properly cleaned, materials like paper and cardboard can be destroyed and sent to disposal.
Acceptable curbside recycling items include clean paper and cardboard, metal cans, plastic bottles and containers as well as glass bottles and jars.
All items must be empty, clean and dry before being thrown in the blue recycling bin, according to DPW.
If you’re unsure if an item is recyclable, click here.
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