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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Governor Kate Brown reflects on 'unexpected' first year, future agenda ... Chetco ocean 'bubble' fisheries could be halved ... Knife attack at Lithia dealership sends man to prison ... Governor Kate Brown reflects on 'unexpected' first year, future agenda ... Chetco ocean 'bubble' fisheries could be halved ... Knife attack at Lithia dealership sends man to prison ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Recycling errors put stress on system MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 8, 2016 @ 12:01 am Posted Apr. 8, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> What happens to items which get put into the co-mingled recycling containers that aren’t supposed to go there? Specifically, plastic bottle caps, clam shell food containers, plastic bags, etc. — Robert J., Ashland Those items end up in the trash but not before wreaking havoc on sorting equipment and slowing down the recycling process. When people put items in their commingle carts that aren’t on their collector’s list of approved items, it reduces the efficiency at material recovery facilities (MRFs), explained Denise Barnes, recycling and community outreach coordinator for Rogue Disposal. “When you put something in your cart that doesn’t belong, you just sent material that will end up as garbage in a landfill hundreds of miles away,” she said in an email. “(It’s) a very expensive way to send garbage to a landfill.” Small, flat items, such as plastic lids and clamshell containers, are crushed into small pieces which then get trapped in the paper and delivered to paper mills, while flexible items such as plastic bags get caught and often melted on the sorting equipment. “They must shut down operations to cut the plastic off the equipment, again reducing efficiency,” Barnes said, adding that most grocery stores have a receptacle where you can recycle plastic bags “Contamination in the cart puts a stress on the entire system,” she said. “When in doubt, throw it out!” Robert, for a list of acceptable commingle items, check out the Recology Ashland or Rogue Disposal websites, depending on your service area. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected] . To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 8, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501