The primary focus of this study was to assess the types and amounts of non-acceptable items, known as contaminants, present in recycling bins.
During the course of the study, 173 samples totaling more than 38,000 pounds of mixed recyclables were collected and sorted into 21 categories of acceptable and non-acceptable materials.
The information gathered through this study will be used by Metro and local government partners to inform the development and implementation of strategies designed to decrease the overall level of contamination in the mixed recycling stream.
Reducing contamination in recycling is a goal of the 2030 Regional Waste Plan. The results of the study will also be used as the baseline to track future efforts to achieve this objective.