The companies can notify customers of a violation in a variety of ways, such as electronically via email or text message and by leaving notification tags on carts, Smith said. Republic Services says it is using auditors to randomly check customers carts, while Waste Management has installed cameras on their trucks that will be reviewed by auditors. Haulers must also provide evidence to customers of violations, Smith said, such as documentation, photos or video. Organics and recycling carts, which are the main focus for contaminants, have contamination thresholds of 3% and 10%, respectively, to incur surcharges for violations, Smith said. "We're not checking for those little objects like that," Rosynsky said. "We're looking for gross contamination." The companies and the city say the new surcharges aren't meant hassle customers about minimal violations, such as someone's neighbor throwing a bag of dog poop in their recycling cart. It also allows you to search the site by typing in what item you're looking to dispose of, as well as provides some ideas for reuse. ![]() The companies have also partnered with the city with a more detailed and area-specific list of dos and don'ts for recycling, green waste and what should ultimately end up at a landfill called. Rosynsky also said that tightening recycling restrictions on contaminants, both from the state and internationally, have made it more vital for customers to be vigilant about what items they throw into what bin.īoth Waste Management and Republic Services provide online general guidance regarding what waste can and should go into each cart. "We can't stress enough that you should not be doing that that you need to keep your recycling loose in the cart - loose and dry." "A lot of people are just putting their recycling in a trash bag or in a plastic bag and then putting that whole bag in the recycling cart," Rosynsky said. Paul Rosynsky, senior communications specialist for Waste Management, said that plastic bags make up about 80% to 85% of contamination. That's why helping to educate the public is the main goal, she said. "The bags also contaminate the bales of clean recyclables with nonrecyclables."īales that are found to be contaminated also can't be recycled and are then sent to the landfill, Gomez said. "They get caught up in the machinery, causing delays and damage to the equipment," Gomez said. One misconception, Gomez says, is that plastic bags can be placed in with the recycling. "We're seeing an increase amount of contaminations on a daily basis," Gomez said. "So, we're using this opportunity to educate the public on how to properly utilize the recycle and organics carts." Molly Gomez, the municipal manager for Republic Services in Stockton, says the company has seen an ongoing increase of contaminations. Contamination includes things like putting items in the wrong carts, such as throwing trash in with the recycling. ![]() Continued violation could also lead to a customer receiving a larger bin or face an increased rate to accommodate excess waste and contaminates.Įxcess waste includes leaving trash, recycling or organics directly on the curbside or bins being so full that the lid doesn't close all the way. Mailers sent out by both Waste Management and Republic Services in the last month or so informed customers that the charges would go into effect after three incidents of overage and/or contamination within three months. She called contamination and overfilled carts as a "long-standing problem." The franchise agreement between the city and the two companies, which was renewed last January and will be in effect for 10 years, allowed for the haulers to impose surcharges for customers not following waste disposal guidelines, Smith said. "This just allows us to be able to get people to properly separate their materials, while also having the materials removed from the curbside," Grace Smith, Stockton's solid waste manager, said. The city says the move is not aimed to be a punitive measure. ![]() Customers who put items not allowed in the carts or fill them too full could be hit with charges ranging between $6.09 to $18.20. Residents in Stockton are provided with three carts: organics, recycling and trash. On Monday, both haulers will begin imposing fees on customers for improperly filling their carts. The city is served by two waste collection companies, with Republic Services serving the west side of Stockton and Waste Management the east. Stockton residents will soon face fees for overfilling their trash bins or putting something into the recycling container that doesn't belong.
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