City of Dallas recycling audit reveals increased contamination

Results of a recent City of Dallas Sanitation Department summer audit has revealed an increase in recycling contamination.

Auditors randomly selected recycling routes from each district to contain and monitor. In addition to typical contaminants, the audit also noted seasonal contaminants like baby pools, garden hoses, coolers and commingled bags from BBQ parties containing recyclables and contaminants like Styrofoam cups, napkins, food waste and paper plates.

These audits allow the city to recover costs which helps keep Sanitation fees low. When the value of these commodities drop, cities may receive zero revenue for the recyclables or will have to pay to have them processed. One contaminated recycle bin can downgrade an entire load of recyclables.

The audit also showed this breakdown of recyclables:
• Newspaper 27%
• Mixed Paper 13%
• Cardboard 12.7%
• #1 Plastics 3.8%
• #2 Plastics 2%
• Plastics #3-7 0.5%
• Aluminum 0.7%
• Tin 1.1%
• Glass 19.9%
• Cartons 0.1%
• 19.2% contamination

That 19.2% is higher than average, but still lower than the national average of 25%. The audit also noted a lack of bathroom recyclables; shampoo and conditioner bottles, empty boxes of soap and cans of hair spray were almost nonexistent, even though they are recyclable.

For more information on recycling properly in Dallas visit www.DallasRecycles.com.