I recently blogged about Enviro Waste Management‘s Waste Map, which shows many of the waste streams we collect and how they are treated etc. You can find our Waste Map on our Process Page.
I was asked questions about contamination. For example:
❓ “Does one dirty lunch wrapper condemn the whole dry mixed recycling bin to become general mixed waste?”
❓ “Can I put containers with food in them in the Food Waste bin?”
The root of these questions are the same – where is the tipping point where a little bit becomes too much. 🤷🏻♀️
The answer is not easy as it depends on the treatment plant and its technology. If you work in a waste treatment plant (of any kind) let us know what you think.
I have found one video about anaerobic digestion (from Privilege Finance and Eco Verde Energy) which shows that some packaging is OK, and the processing of this waste accounts for packaging waste.
For now, the general guideline seems to be:
✅If there is a lot of food left in the packaging, it can go in the food bin.
✅If there are only the remnants of food left, rinse the packaging and put it in the recycling bin, if the packaging is recyclable.
✅If not recyclable, or you can’t rinse out the container, it goes in the GMW bin.
I will keep you posted as to what I learn!
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