It has been one month since an ordinance prohibiting single-use plastic bags went into effect in Norwalk. City officials remind residents that any plastic bags in circulation cannot be placed into their blue recycling bins. To recycle any plastic bags, residents must drop them off at specific locations, such as local grocery stores.
“Not everything we buy can be recycled. We all must pay attention to what can be recycled and what should be otherwise thrown away,” said Norwalk Mayor Harry W. Rilling. “I encourage residents, as well as all City and school employees to recycle as much as they can and when possible, move to reusable products – like canvas tote bags and travel coffee mugs – instead of relying on paper and plastic.”
Over the last five years, the City’s recycling tonnage has increased to nearly 9,000 tons collected annually. All items placed into the recycling bin should be empty, rinsed, and clean. Do not box, bag or bundle items. Everything must fit inside of the container – do not stack items outside or on top of the blue bin. In addition to plastic bags and plastic wrap, single-use coffee pods, plastic straws, Styrofoam cups, paper cups, and packing peanuts cannot be recycled.
“When plastic bags or plastic film go into the recycling bins, it ultimately ends up in the solid waste stream,” explained Norwalk Waste Programs Manager Jessica Paladino. “Workers are manually sorting plastic out of the recycling process and removing it when it becomes clogged in the machines. This is labor intensive and dangerous to workers.”
For a complete recycling list visit norwalkct.org/recycling. For more information contact the Customer Service Center at (203) 854-3200.