TIP! You’re recycling wrong.

The first of our daily tips: You’re recycling wrong.

March 23, 2015; 7:00 AM • by Ross Catrow

We’re putting out TIPS! that will enhance your life. Have a tip you think Richmonders would love? Let us know!

Pizza boxes, while made out of totally recyclable corrugated cardboard, are definitely not something you should toss into the recycle bin. Like most of the inhabitants of your local elementary school, they’re considered “food-contaminated items”:

Any food left on your containers may attract pests to your recycling bin. Food residue also contaminates the materials and make them unrecyclable.

Who knew, right? In fact, there’s a whole set of things you shouldn’t be recycling:

• plastic bags
• juice boxes or milk cartons
• any plastic that’s not a #1 or a #2 (Whole Foods in Short Pump will accept #5s)
• plastic or metal lids

You can read the full list of banned items over on the Central Virginia Waste Management’s website.

P.S. Make sure you breakdown your cardboard boxes!

March 23, 2015 7:00 AM 1