Council launches campaign to cut cost of recycling contamination
Derby City Council has revealed that the cost of processing and disposing of contamination (incorrect or dirty items) in recycling bins is currently costing £450,000 a year. Some of the most common problem items are bagged waste, used nappies, food waste, electricals, hard plastic, and plastic bags and films.
Things like food waste and leftover takeaways are particularly problematic as they spread in the collection vehicles, contaminating large amounts of otherwise clean and dry recycling.