If up to 40 per cent of what goes into recycling bins cannot be recycled because they are either non-recyclable or soiled by food or liquids, that is indeed a very high level of wastage. One major factor contributing to this problem is the indiscriminate use of recycling bins by the public, either due to sheer ignorance or for the sake of convenience. I have been a strong supporter of recycling efforts since the days of putting recyclable waste into supplied green bags, which were then collected door to door by waste companies. This was more costly and time-consuming, but it helped prevent contamination of the recycled items as the items from each household were bagged separately. Currently, trucks go from bin to bin collecting recyclables, but soiled items from any bin will contaminate the recyclable waste. Perhaps MEWR may want to review the current methods of collecting recyclable waste, in a bid to encourage a higher level of participation from the public as well as to reduce wastage due to contamination.... Continue Reading