You would think that packing your broken-down cardboard boxes into plastic bags would be a good way to handle excess recyclables. But this makes them NOT recyclable!βAND it likely adds to the costs of recycling because the bags gets tangled up in the recycling equipment and needs to be removed. KACB has visited the recycling facility in Knoxville, and anything in a plastic bag goes into the landfill.
The recycler, Smurfit WestRock, recently became able to recycle aseptic packaging (juice boxes, milk cartons, etc. β and also plastic-coated ups like Starbucks coffee cups) because recyclers can separate the paper from the plastic β and discard the plastic, but recycle the paper. Also, they said pizza boxes can be recycled even if they have stuck-on cheese and grease. But pizza boxes (like bottles, cans, etc.) need to be emptied so they can be air-sorted successfully.
Smurfit WestRock said that only 10β12% of their "recyclable" input goes to the landfill. This is much better that other recyclers. Keep up the good work.