Millions of dollars have been invested to properly recycle batteries and obsolete electronics, but that does not mean those items are welcome in curbside recycling bins, says the founder of one material recovery facility (MRF) equipment company.

JD Ambati, the founder and CEO of California-based robotic sorting technology provider EverestLabs, has created a list of five things he says “can’t be recycled.” It might be more accurate to say of some of the listed items that they are heading down the wrong path when they are introduced into a municipal recycling bin.

On Ambati’s list are batteries, ceramics, electronic scrap, “sharp objects and medical waste” and “tangling items” such as cords and hoses.

EverestLabs says batteries pose “a significant challenge for recycling facilities [because of] the risk of fires caused by batteries discarded in curbside recycling bins.” Adds the company, “These fires endanger the lives of waste and recycling workers and can lead to prolonged shutdowns or the complete destruction of facilities.”

Regarding electronic scrap, Ambati and EverestLabs recommend homeowners “find an organization in your area that will recover your unwanted electronics.”

The technology vendor lists garden hoses, extension cords and holiday lights as well as “tangling Items” that “are so long, they can get wrapped around other items and disrupt production” at the MRF. “It can also hurt machinery and result in a recycling facility having to shut down,” adds EverestLabs.

Ceramics make the list because they have very few recycling applications and can be harmful when introduced to furnaces designed to remelt glass.

Medical waste and sharp objects like needles, knives, hangers and antennas “are a huge safety hazard to people working at recycling manufacturing plants,” adds EverestLabs. “Instead, find the nearest medical disposal box near you,” recommends Ambati regarding medical waste.

Courtesy : recyclingtoday.com