COUNTY News:

Environmental Services would like to remind residents to be mindful when separating their recyclables. It is important to avoid placing non-recyclables into the blue roll-cart or dumpster.

Contamination results in extra work for everyone down the recycling chain and if contamination is too excessive, it may lead to sending an entire load of recyclables collected to the landfill.

Recyclables from the blue roll-carts and blue dumpsters in Los Alamos are transported to Friedman Recycling in Albuquerque. Once there, the items are sorted and baled before being sold as secondary raw material. Friedman Recycling performs audits of incoming materials and determines the contamination rate of each load.

In 2016, Los Alamos sent 1,822 tons of recyclable materials to Friedman for processing. This year to date another 1,195 tons have been sent. The Los Alamos recycling stream currently has 17 percent contamination, which equates to 203 tons of contaminated material so far this year. Compensation from Friedman Recycling is dependent on the quality of the material and contamination greatly impacts the average market value.

Glass recycling is also experiencing contamination that is costly. Glass collection is drop-off only, with yellow recycling dumpsters located at Sullivan Field, the Los Alamos Co-op Market, Overlook Convenience Center and the Eco Station. Glass bottles and jars are the only items allowed in the glass dumpster.

Items not allowed include: lightbulbs, windows and mirrors, drinking glasses, plate glass, ceramics, lids, plastic bags and cardboard bottle holders. The glass is sent to Buckman Recycling Center in Santa Fe for pulverizing. The glass is inspected upon arrival, if there are too many contaminates, Environmental Services is charged to dispose of the load at the Caja Del Rio Landfill. In 2016, Los Alamos collected 195 tons of glass. Of that amount, approximately 10 percent was contaminated material.

Help keep contaminates out of the recycling stream by checking the County’s website at https://www.losalamosnm.us/gogreen. When unsure if something is recyclable, it is better to toss it in the trash rather than possibly contaminate an entire load. Remember this phrase: “If in doubt, throw it out.” Call the Environmental Services Division at 505.662.8163 with any recycling questions.

Additional reminders below can further help reduce contamination. Do not place these items in the recycling blue roll-carts or blue dumpsters:

• Glass;
• Brush;
• Plastic Bags and Wrap;
• Napkins and Tissues;
• Styrofoam;
•  Chip Bags and Candy Wrappers;
• Greasy or Food Contaminated Material (Pizza Boxes);
• Wood;
•  Diapers;
• Garden Hoses; and
• Christmas Lights.