Town Reports Spike In Contaminated Recycling Across Shrewsbury

SHREWSBURY, MA — The town is urging residents to check what they're recycling, after a contamination audit.

Shrewsbury conducts quarterly checks to determine how much non-recyclable material is placed in the town's recycling carts. So far, this quarter, the town has seen a more than 4 percent increase compared to the last three quarters.

Shrewsbury said October's contamination percentage was 16.88 percent, while Q3's was 12.76 percent, Q2's was 10 percent and Q1's was only 7.37 percent.

The town said its most significant contamination issues are plastic wraps and films, like shrink wrap and plastic bottles; textiles, like rugs and clothing; scrap metal, like pots, pans and wires; and general trash.

The issue can be avoided by recycling only materials accepted in the program. If you're unsure, the town says you can throw it out in the trash.

See Also:

• Shrewsbury Police Awarded $173K From State 911 Department
• Shrewsbury Ranks Among Best School Districts In MA, New Ranking Says
• Shrewsbury Teen Chases His Dream Of An Olympic Gold In Luge