CLEARWATER, Fla. — Thirty-two tons of recycling collected in August in Clearwater was rejected due to high contamination, city leaders said in an X post.
That rejection is prompting the city to remind its residents to recycle properly, as officials say crews have collected loads of recycling that were "50% garbage."
In the following guide, 10 Tampa Bay breaks down how Clearwater residents can properly recycle their materials, as told by city leaders:
What items are accepted?
The city of Clearwater wants residents to "Simplify to 5," accepting five different items for recycling.
They are as follows:
- All plastic bottles and jugs #1-7 (no Styrofoam, plastic bags or wraps)
- Glass bottles/jars
- Aluminum/steel cans and empty aerosol cans
- Mixed paper. If you can rip it, you can recycle it. This includes newspapers, office paper, magazines, junk mail, phone books, paperback books, cereal/food boxes, envelopes, shoe boxes, wrapping paper and folders. This does not include tissues, paper towels and napkins.
- Flattened cardboard and cartons
The city is also reminding residents to remove all recyclables from plastic bags before emptying them into dumpsters.
"If it's not clean, dry or loose in your bin, it's not recyclable and is trash instead," officials stated in the post.
What items aren't accepted?
City leaders say when in doubt, residents should throw the following items out!
- Plastic bags, wraps or tarps
- Scrap, metal, auto parts, tools pots or pans
- Ceramics, glassware or mirrors
- Dirty cardboard (i.e. greasy pizza boxes)
- Polystyrene foam, paper cups, shredded paper, plates, utensils, or wrapping paper
- Hazardous waste such as paint, tires or propane tanks
- Small appliances, electronics or batteries
- Food or liquids
- Yard waste
- Toys, buckets, other hard plastics
- "Tanglers," such as hoses, wires, clothing or textiles
What about my grease?
According to city leaders, grease repurposing is available on a drop-off basis only. To repurpose your grease, follow these steps:
- Place leftover cooking greases, frying oils, meat drippings and bacon fats into a container
- Bring grease to the city's Recycling Drop-Off Center at 1701 North Hercules Avenue.
- Pour the contents of the container into the large green barrel that is on-site. Take your container home or place it in the trash after, as a container with a layer of grease inside is not recyclable.
To learn more about Clearwater's recycling guidelines, click here.
