Interns with the Des Moines Public Works Department are performing recycling audits throughout the city to prevent contaminated items from entering the recycling stream.

The program started a few weeks ago, but interns have already seen some interesting items inside recycling bins.

“I’ll find car parts. I think one time I found a dog kennel,” said Ashley Kannenberg, a first-year recycling helper.

Ashley and other recycling helpers check blue carts on collection day for any violations. If they find one, they place a paper on the bin that explains which non-recyclable item was found inside. They also turn the bin sideways to prevent the bin from being collected by crews.

If a resident receives three violations, their recycling bin will be removed to prevent them from contaminating the recycling stream on their block.

Operations Manager Craig Shepherd said the goal isn’t to punish residents but to help educate them.

“About 15% of our recycle stream is contaminated. That can push up to 20%. With the help of our recycling helpers, we’re trying to bring that number down closer to 10%, which is around the national average,” he said.

Des Moines neighborhoods with recycling helpers have seen a 60% increase in the quality of recycling during previous years of the program.

The most common violations found are plastic bags, styrofoam, and items with food contamination.

According to Shepherd, residents can recycle plastic bags at their local grocery stores, but they cannot be recycled through the city. Recyclable items with food waste on them should be washed before they’re placed inside the blue carts, or they will also be a violation. Styrofoam cannot be recycled anywhere.

After crews collect recyclables from residents, they are brought to the Metro Waste Authority. All items are placed onto a conveyor belt where AI (Artificial Intelligence) sorts through them. If AI detects a violation, a gust of air blows the violation, and the surrounding recyclable material, off the belt.

Shepherd said that most residents aren’t aware that they are placing violations inside recycling bins, so they tend to correct their recycling habits after the first audit.

Courtesy : who13.com