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MIXED CURBSIDERESIDENTIALRECYCLING MYTHSTo learn more, visitwm.com/recycleright

IT’S TIME TO GETBACK TO THE BASICSOF GOOD RECYCLING.The fact is that some recycling actions make abigger impact than others. So please rememberthese three rules the next time you recycle:Recycle clean bottles, cans,paper, and cardboard.Keep food and liquidout of your recycling.No loose plastic bagsand no bagged recyclables.You’d be amazed how big an impact justfollowing these simple rules can have!But what about the other materials we encounter in ourday-to-day lives?Use these recycling rules, expert tips, and dispel all recycling myths tobecome an effective recycling ambassador and recycle right every day.1 2020 WM Intellectual Property Holdings, L.L.C.

Identify the mythsof recycling andbecome an expert.MYTH: Most Americans recycle all they can.ANSWER: FalseResearch shows convenience and commitmentare required for maximum recycling. For instance,do you have recycling containers in multiplerooms in your home? If not, recyclables in roomsother than the kitchen often get thrown away.Plus, the more members in a household whocommit to recycle, the better the quality of thematerials they recycle.MYTH: The recycling arrows (Mobius) on a containermean it is recyclable at a Material Recovery Facility (MRF).ANSWER: Only in some casesManufacturers strive to get eco-friendlyinformation on their product labels. The FTCrequires that a product have at least 60% accessto local programs (like a Material RecoveryFacility processing) to include the Mobiussymbol on products. However, the Mobius isnot a reliable indicator of whether somethingis acceptable to recycle in your mixed curbsiderecycling. There are thousands of plasticproducts and packaging, and each may haveits own unique chemical composition. Recycleplastics by shape: bottles, jars, jugs and tubs.MYTH: Containers must be squeaky clean in order to be recycled.ANSWER: FalseWhile all bottles, cans, and containersshould be clean, dry, and free of most foodwaste before you place them in your recyclingcontainer, they don’t need to be spotless.The goal is to make sure they are clean enough2 2020 WM Intellectual Property Holdings, L.L.C.to avoid contaminating other materials, likepaper. Try using a spatula to scrape cans andjars, or using a small amount of water, shakethe container to remove most residue.

MYTH: It doesn’t matter if something belongs in the recyclingcart, the hauler will sort everything anyway.ANSWER: FalseThere are increasing amounts of non-recyclableitems sent to Material Recovery Facilities,and all of them must be removed by hand bytrained staff or mechanically sorted so theydon’t contaminate the high-value recyclables.Non-recyclable items placed in your recyclingcontainers increase the cost of recycling, slowthe process, and pose safety risks to employees.Focus on only recycling the most valuablematerials - clean bottles, cans, paper andcardboard. If you’re not sure whether somethingis recyclable, throw it in the garbage to protectthe acceptable recyclable items in yourrecycling container!MYTH: Hoses, tanks, shower curtains, swing sets, etc.are made of plastic, so they must be recyclable.ANSWER: FalseIf it’s not “bottles, cans, paper or cardboard” itprobably doesn’t belong in your curbside mixedrecycling cart and may even require specialhandling. Just because an item is made fromplastic, or contains plastic parts, doesn’t meanrecycling facilities can handle it. There are otherresources (e.g., Earth911.org) that can helpanswer questions about what to do withnon-recyclables or household hazardous waste.MYTH: All types of glass bottles and jars are recyclable.ANSWER: Varies by jurisdictionGlass recycling varies by jurisdictionand communities across the U.S. Somecommunities collect glass at drop-offlocations only, some collect glass separatelyat the curb or with other containers, and manyinclude glass with all other recyclables.3 2020 WM Intellectual Property Holdings, L.L.C.Bottle bill laws in CA, CT, OR, IA, MI, ME, VT,MA, NY allow for the return of a per-bottledeposit when bottles are returned to returncenters or retailers for recycling. Pleaserefer to your community’s website for moreinformation on how to recycle glass.

MYTH: Aerosol cans are acceptable in the recycle bin.ANSWER: Varies by jurisdictionMost recycling programs accept empty and dryaerosol cans without the caps - if the cans arenot empty, they can be dangerous. Fires havebeen caused in baler chambers and collectiontrucks from trace amounts of chemicals in thecans. Plus cans have been known to becomeprojectiles when densified/baled if the propellantis still present. Waste Management facilities and4 2020 WM Intellectual Property Holdings, L.L.C.commodity vendors accept steel, mixed metal,and aluminum aerosol packages. Multi-materialaerosol packages are not recyclable. There isno gray area here from a processor standpoint.However, some cities still list aerosols on thenon-acceptable lists. Check with your localmunicipality for more information.

Understandbasic recyclingrules and tips.RECYCLE CLEAN BOTTLES, CANS, PAPER, AND CARDBOARD.ItemRuleExpert TipPlastic Bottles & ContainersRecycle plastics like emptybottles, jars, jugs, and tubsby their shapes. Chasingarrows don’t necessarilyindicate recyclability.Caps are recyclable, butyou must put them back onempty containers beforetossing in the bin.Food & Beverage CansRecycle all empty tin,aluminum, and steel cans.Remove plastic lids fromany food or beverage cansbefore recycling. Note:empty aerosol cans can alsobe recycled, but be sure theyare empty and never includeany aerosol caps.PaperPaper, newspaper, andmagazines are good to recycle.Soiled and wet paper shouldbe placed in the trash.Flattened Cardboard& PaperboardFlatten and recycle allcardboard and paperboard.Break down and flattencardboard boxes to makeroom for more materialsto fit in your recycling. Besure to close the lid on yourrecycling container to keepmaterials dry.5 2020 WM Intellectual Property Holdings, L.L.C.

RECYCLE CLEAN BOTTLES, CANS, PAPER, AND CARDBOARD.ItemGlass Bottles& Containers?6 2020 WM Intellectual Property Holdings, L.L.C.RuleGlass recycling rules varyby city, county and state.If acceptable, make surecontainers are empty.Tip - Check your localrecycling program. Yourcommunity could acceptglass in its curbsideprogram, or there could bedrop-off locations, or it mighthave to go in the trash.Expert TipCheck your local recyclingprogram to confirm that glassis accepted in the curbsideprogram. Some communitiesaccept glass curbside, or theremight be drop-off locations, orit might have to go in the trashif not accepted.

Do not bag recyclables.They must beloose in the bin!NO PLASTIC BAGS, FILM OR FLEXIBLE PACKAGINGItemRuleExpert TipNO BaggedRecyclablesDon’t bag your recyclables.Empty items directly intoyour recycling container. It’sthe best thing you can do toensure items get a second life.If you collect yourrecyclables in a bag, simplyempty the items directly intoyour final recycling containerand reuse the bag!NO Plastic BagsLoose plastic bags aregenerally not accepted incurbside programs. Pleasecheck your local program.No loose plastic bags anddon’t bag your recyclables.Plastic bags get tangled inequipment and threatenworker safety. Find whereyou can recycle plastic bagsat plasticfilmrecycling.orgNO Plastic Wraps & FilmPlastic wrap, bubble wrap,plastic sandwich bags, andfreezer bags should not go inthe recycle bin.Reuse whenever possible forpresents, moving, or storage ofsimilar items.NO Flexible PackagingFlexible packaging like chipbags and juice or soup pouchescannot be recycled in curbsideprograms.This type of packagingis made from multiplematerials preventing itfrom being recycled at thecurb. Currently it must go inthe trash.7 2020 WM Intellectual Property Holdings, L.L.C.

Not everything madefrom plastic is recyclable,and that’s OK!TRASH IT INSTEADItemRuleExpert TipNO Garden Hoses, Rope,Leashes, Wire & String“Tanglers’ like garden hoses,ropes, electrical chords, andstring should never go in therecycle bin.These items wrap aroundequipment and threaten thesafety of MRF workers, plusthey can shut down an entirerecycling center. Make surethey only go in the trash.NO Dirty DiapersDirty diapers’ and petwaste’s yuck factor increasewhen they end up where theyshouldn’t—the recycle bin!These will soil all of therecyclables, turning the loadto trash. Trash these insteadand keep recyclables clean.NO Cups with Plasticor Wax CoatingCups with plastic or waxedcoatings are not recyclable.The plastic lid should betrashed as well.NO Polystyrene Foam& PlasticPolystyrene foam and plastic“to-go” containers and cupsare made of non-recyclablematerials, and cannot becollected curbside.Packing peanuts aren’trecyclable either, howeversome shipping stores willtake peanuts back for reuse.8 2020 WM Intellectual Property Holdings, L.L.C.

Items do not haveto be squeaky cleanto be recycled.KEEP ITEMS CLEAN AND DRYItemRuleExpert TipNO Food WasteScrape out all cans and jars,empty liquids, and put scrapsin the compost, if available.Food scraps and liquids mayseem harmless, but theycould turn a whole load ofrecycling to trash.NO Soiled Paper TowelsSoiled paper towels,napkins, and tissues arenot recyclable.Compost the soiled papertowels if you can, andremember to recycle thepaper towel cardboard tube.Pizza BoxesCardboard pizza deliveryboxes that are free from anyleftovers or liners CAN berecycled.You be the judge! Recycle theempty pizza box if it’s not toogreasy after you’ve eaten allthe pizza.9 2020 WM Intellectual Property Holdings, L.L.C.

Check with your localrecycling program.COMMON RECYCLING QUESTIONSItemRuleExpert TipFood & Beverage ContainersThese types of cartonsare lightweight and haveenvironmental advantages,but they are not acceptableto recycle curbside.The cartons are made ofmultiple materials and aredifficult to recycle. Checkwith your community to seeif there are opportunitiesto recycle these papercontainers locally.Glass Bottles & JarsGlass recycling rules vary bycity, county, and state.Check for local recyclingprograms – there could bedrop off locations, curbsidepickup, and comingledoptions.NO NeedlesMedical waste doesn’tbelong in curbside recyclingor waste!Needles can cause seriousinjuries to workers, sodispose of them in a safecontainer like WasteManagement’s MedWasteTracker box, or contact?your local service provider.10 2020 WM Intellectual Property Holdings, L.L.C.

Large household items don’tbelong in your recycling bin.COMMON RECYCLING QUESTIONSItemRuleExpert TipNO Scrap Metal, Auto Parts& TiresMetal waste (car parts,propane cylinders, lawnmowers, and microwaves)cause damage and are safetyhazards if put in curbsiderecycling or waste bins.Check locally for specialcollection options or takethem to a local retailer orscrap recycler for donationor proper recycling.NO Large Household ItemsHousehold items such asclothing, textiles, showercurtains, swimming pools,and fencing don’t belong inthe recycle or waste bin.Check local programsor thrift stores for reuseopportunities first beforeputting larger householditems into your waste bin.NO FurnitureFurniture does not belong incurbside recycling or trashcollection!While very damaged orunusable furniture isbest suited for your localjunkyard, many organizationsaccept donated furniture theycan resell to the public.NO AppliancesAppliances are not acceptedin curbside recycling or trashcollection.Organizations like Habitatfor Humanity’s ReStoreaccept new and gently usedappliances for donation andresell them to the public.For proper disposal, checkwith your manufacturer ortake the item to your localtransfer station.11 2020 WM Intellectual Property Holdings, L.L.C.