It's been a few years since Waste Management started single stream recycling in the Reno area, but they say they are still seeing a lot of things put in those bins that shouldn't be there.
Channel 2 got a little refresher course on what you can and can't put into the single stream recycling bin.
Waste Management officials say the most common mistake is: plastic bags. Whether they're recycling bin liners, grocery bags, or retail bags, whether they say they're recyclable or not, they can't go in the bins. If you want to recycle them, you have to take them back to the grocery store. They say that's because flimsy plastic can jam up the machines they use in the recycling plant.
Also on the 'no' list:
   Anything with food waste, like greasy pizza boxes or dirty aluminum foil.
   Any polystyrene (Styrofoam) products
   Fast food cups, lids, and straws
   Napkins and paper towels
   Mixed material items that don't come apart easily, like staplers
   Electronic equipment and batteries
   Garden hoses
   Wire hangers
   Clothing and fabric
   Plant waste and wood
   Large chunks of metal, like wrought iron furniture or old barbecues (Waste Management will take these on site at their Commercial Row facility, just not in the curbside bins)
So if you're not sure if it's recyclable?
"Check the lid," Waste Management Communications Specialist Kendra Kostelecky said. "If it's listed on the sticker on your lid, then it goes in the cart. If it doesn't, we like to say, 'When in doubt, leave it out.'"
Kostelecky said those who repeatedly contaminate the recycling stream will get fined. The first two offenses get a warning, but after that, they'll start charging you. Enough violations and you'll lose your recycling privileges for a year.
The good news is, if you have an unusual item to recycle that isn't allowed in a bin (like electronics, tires, bubble wrap, batteries, and old carpet), there's a good chance that one of the below organizations will take it off your hands:
Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful's recycling guide for the spring and summer of 2018:
