Chester County residents, “keep up the good work and keep making our recyclables cleaner.” The issue with recycling today is CONTAMINATION. When recyclables are clean and separated from trash correctly, there is a market for those items. BUT ONLY the items asked for. Educate the “wishful” recyclers who want to recycle everything. They have polluted the market with trash.

You should only recycle CLEAN mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, box board, aluminum and steel cans, glass bottles and jars and plastics containers 1-5 +7 preferably with narrow necks. WE DO NOT WANT THINGS LIKE YOUR RUBBER HOSES, PLASTIC KIDDIE POOLS, FOAM, TOYS, BASKETS OR ICE CHESTS.

Do not include plastic bags or any film plastic in your recycling bin. Plastic bags and film plastic can betaken back to the grocery store. Plastic bags will jam the machinery at the materials recovery facility where your recyclables are separated and baled for sale.

The Chester County recycling rate has been well over 60% for the last 6 years and residents should be proud of their performance. Keep up the good work but…

WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT