A Successful Summer Sale

With the global population growing and resources becoming increasingly limited, it's important to ensure that waste is disposed of responsibly. Recycling can go a long way towards reducing the amount of trash in landfills, but only if businesses are properly utilizing their commercial recycling containers.

Unfortunately, some common mistakes people make when managing their recycling bins can lead to reduced efficiency or even contamination of recyclables. This article explores these pitfalls so you can avoid them and get your business on the right track with its recycling program.

Incorrect Sizing

When selecting the right commercial recycling containers for your business, it's important to ensure they are an appropriate size.

If your containers are too small, they will need to be emptied more often than necessary, and you risk overflowing. On the other hand, if they're too large, they can become bulky and unwieldy. It's best to find a balance between both scenarios so that the bins aren't filling up too quickly or becoming unmanageable.

To find the right size, consider the volume of waste your business generates and how often it needs to be collected. For instance, if you produce a large number of cardboard boxes, opt for larger bins. On the other hand, if your business has minimal waste, you can get away with smaller containers.

You might also want to consider the size of the space you have available. Remember, the larger the bin, the more space it takes up. So, if you're working with limited square footage, you may want to opt for more compact containers. You could also get creative with stackable or specialty bins for more efficient use of space.

Mixing Recyclable and Non-Recyclable Items

Among the most common mistakes businesses make with their commercial recycling containers is mixing recyclable and non-recyclable items.

It's important to ensure all recyclables, such as paper, plastic, metal, and cardboard, are placed in the right bins. This will ensure that your recycling is properly sorted and can be recycled into new products.

On the other hand, non-recyclable items such as thin plastics, food waste, electronics, and hazardous materials shouldn't go in the recycling bin. These items should be disposed of separately through a professional waste management company or local facility.

Mixing these items with your recyclables can create contamination issues, which could lead to entire loads of recyclables being turned away from processing centers. And that means those materials won't be recycled and will likely end up in landfills.

It's also important to ensure that your workers are aware of the appropriate materials to put in the bins. It may be beneficial to give employees a refresher on what is and isn't accepted for recycling and provide clear labels and signage for the containers.

For more information about commercial recycling containers, contact a local company.