Walla Walla launches recycling campaign
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, June 15th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – Walla Walla Public Works has begun labeling outdoor recycle bins with stickers in an effort to reduce contamination. This month the city is also mailing to recycling customers a sticker for their indoor bin and brochure detailing new recycling guidelines.
Residents are reminded they can recycle paper, cardboard, and aluminum/tin and that those items must be empty, clean, and dry. The city currently prohibits customers from recycling plastic grocery bags, glass, plastic, Styrofoam, and freezer packs.
“Currently about 30 percent of what’s put in the recycle bin contains contaminants such as food, plastic, and other non-recyclable material”, Public Works Communications Coordinator Shane Prudente said. “Our goal is to reduce that number to the 15 percent range.”
Prudente said recyclables are shipped to Walla Walla Recycling where they are baled, then those bales are shipped to Tacoma where the recyclables are sorted.
“If the bales are too contaminated, they might be sent to the landfill,” Prudente said.
The public information campaign is an effort to cut down on that problem. “We spent just under $10,000 to print and mail the education materials and labels – roughly $1 per customer,” Prudente said.
Photo via the city of Walla Walla
