WORCESTER — Starting Oct. 1, the company that collects recycling for the city will no longer empty bins that contain any material deemed unacceptable.
The changes by Casella Waste Management of Massachusetts Inc. are meant to reduce contamination in the recycling stream.
Bins containing prohibited items will be left at the curb.
According to the city, the most common issue comes when residents put their recycling into a plastic bag, a particularly problematic contaminant for the machines Casella uses.
The following items will not be accepted:
- Plastic bags
- Wax-coated paper items
- Plastic cutlery, paper towels, or Styrofoam food containers
- Food or liquids
- Clothing or linens
- Hoses, electrical wires or chains
- Batteries, scrap metal, pans or aerosol cans
- Electronic devices or hazardous materials
- Ceramics or baking glass
- Medical waste, including gloves and masks
- Yard waste, such as wood or tires
The city’s new, 22-gallon containers came labeled with instructions on what materials should be recycled and which should not.
