Hi,
We finally have recycling in my city, so now citizens are required to wash cans and bottles instead of tossing them. Potable water costs in money for pumping, treating, heating, and waste treatment and costs in resources as water withdrawals are made. As long as dog food comes in metal cans and beverages in bottles and cans instead of compostable materials we'll be washing used containers. Until that changes, is there a way to reduce the water, power and natural resource impacts from the washing required by recycling?
Wayne Ives
Instream Flow Specialist
NH Dept of Environmental Services
United States
Household Recycling Water Use
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Check with whoever is collecting, but the requirement is probably not that they are clean, just rinsed to get major debris off or with drinks, just being emptied and a very light rinse to minimize the attractants for bugs. In many CA communities that is sufficient for our markets.
John Brooks
Sr. Analyst
City of Thousand Oaks
United States
Re: washing of recyclables
In North East Victoria we have a fully comingled recycling service that does not require washing of recylables - of course it is an option, but the preference is not to in an effort to save our precious water (we have just broken out of a 15 year long intense drought.)
Sue Arndt
Green Globe Project Officer
Mansfield Shire Council
Australia
Re: washing of recyclables
We have a commingled system of recycling also. As the majority of the recycling process at our MRF is conducted by people, we encourage people to rinse their recyclables in their dish water at the end of washing up (to save water) or fill a small bucket for rinsing water which can then be placed on the garden. Rinsing is not mandatory but highly welcomed by the people on the sorting line! Plus our collection is fortnightly so bins can get pretty wiffy if things aren't rinsed.
Angela
Waste Education Officer
Australia
...
If people wash their recyclables at the same time as they do their dishes, or put the recyclables in the dishwasher with the dishes, then no additional water or energy use is required.
Julie Searle
United Kingdom