City of Santa Cruz 'Recycle Right!' Videos Make Recycling Easier

The City of Santa Cruz has launched a “Recycle Right!” video series to help City residents and businesses get the right material into the right bin which will reduce the amount of trash in the city landfill and conserve natural resources. The series demonstrates correct curbside recycling procedures for glass, plastics, metal, cardboard, paper and plastic bags. The videos can be viewed at www.cityofsantacruz.com/recycleright or on the Public Works Department’s YouTube page.

The video series acknowledges that much can be confusing when it comes to recycling given packaging made of hybrid materials, rules that differ from location to location, and recycling industry standards that have changed.

The video on metal recycling illustrates how items like coffee and chip bags that look like foil but also contain plastic may not be recycled. Another video explains why paper coffee cups, milk cartons and food boxes that are treated to be waterproof cannot be recycled because the items don’t break down in water which is needed for the recycling process.

The video that is focused on plastics points out that the numbers on the bottoms of bottles, jars and jugs are no longer accurate recycling guidelines; instead “container” is the key to recycling plastics. The demonstrated glass sorting rule is simple as well: if it’s a glass bottle or jar, it can be recycled—no other type of glass is allowed in the recycling bin.

Contamination, the number one recycling problem in Santa Cruz and the nation, is addressed throughout the videos. Prime culprits identified are hinged plastic food boxes known as “clam shells” and single plastic bags. These items may not be recycled since they co-mingle with paper on the sorting line ruining other recyclables. The proper recycling of plastic bags in Santa Cruz is clearly demonstrated with the “bag your bags” method of bundling and tying bags together.

Simple rules regarding dozens of other items and materials including pet food bags, cellophane, motor oil bottles, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, nursery pots and all rigid plastics are also provided in the “Recycle Right!” video series.