You May Not Need to Rinse Out Recyclables
Disposal regulations differ from city to city, but you’ve probably heard that you should rinse cans, bottles, and cans before putting them in the trash can. In fact, you probably shouldn’t worry about this.
At KQED, Recology Recycling Center Manager Robert Read says we really don’t need to waste water rinsing out recyclables.
Robert says a half full can of peanut butter would be too much, but their equipment is prepared to handle the leftovers.
This may vary depending on the processing facility, but Ecomyths also agrees (in a way):
Why are the service requirements so different? What happens if you don’t follow local regulations? We posed these and other questions to Eric Masanet, Ph.D., professor and researcher at Northwestern University’s Energy and Resource Systems Analysis Laboratory , and Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal Resources, Conservation and Recycling . His short takeaway: It’s wise to follow the gargling guidelines in your area, but don’t worry if you forget sometimes.
The video above shows how the recycling happens when it comes out of your bin, and it’s pretty neat. Almost as tidy as not worrying about the cleanliness of these jars.
What happens to the recycling of waste in San Francisco after it gets off the curb? | KQED