Five Simple Fixes to Reduce Dry Mixed Recycling Contamination

Dry mixed recycling helps businesses recycle common materials like paper, cardboard, plastics, cans and cartons more efficiently. But when non-recyclable items, food waste, or liquids end up in recycling bins, contamination can quickly become a problem.

Contaminated recycling reduces the quality of materials, disrupts processing, and can even cause entire loads to be rejected. This leads to higher disposal costs and less material being successfully recycled.

The good news is that reducing contamination doesn’t require major changes. Simple improvements to recycling habits, bin signage, and staff awareness can make a big difference. In this guide, we’ll explore five practical ways to reduce dry mixed recycling contamination and improve workplace recycling outcomes.

Understanding dry mixed recycling contamination

Dry mixed recycling contamination happens when incorrect materials are placed into recycling bins, making it harder for recyclable items to be processed effectively. Common contaminants include food waste, liquids, plastic film, coffee cups, and general waste mixed in with recyclable materials.

Common causes of contamination include:

• Unclear or inconsistent bin signage
• Confusion around what can and can’t be recycled
• Food or liquid residue left in containers
• Non-recyclable items being placed in dry mixed recycling bins

Even small amounts of contamination can have a significant impact, including:

• Lower quality recyclable materials
• Disrupted sorting and processing
• Rejected recycling loads
• Increased disposal costs and wasted resources

Understanding how contamination happens is the first step towards creating cleaner recycling streams and improving workplace recycling rates.

Fix 1: Only recycle accepted materials

One of the most effective ways to reduce dry mixed recycling contamination is to ensure only accepted materials are placed into recycling bins. While dry mixed recycling systems are designed to handle a range of recyclable items, not everything can be processed together.

Commonly accepted materials include:

• Paper and cardboard
• Plastic bottles and containers
• Aluminium cans and tins
• Cartons and beverage containers

Items that often cause contamination include:

• Food waste
• Soft plastics and plastic film
• Black bags
• Coffee cups (unless specifically accepted)
• General waste and non-recyclable packaging

Placing the wrong items into recycling bins can reduce the quality of recyclable materials and increase the risk of rejected loads. Providing clear guidance on accepted materials helps employees recycle with confidence and keeps recycling streams cleaner.

Fix 2: Keep items clean, dry, and empty

Food residue and liquids are some of the most common causes of dry mixed recycling contamination. When recyclable items are not emptied or cleaned properly, they can damage other materials in the recycling stream, particularly paper and cardboard.

Simple habits can make a big difference, including:

• Emptying leftover food and drink from containers
• Giving bottles, cans, and containers a quick rinse
• Keeping paper and cardboard dry
• Avoiding heavily soiled packaging, such as greasy takeaway boxes

Clean and dry materials are easier to sort and process, helping to improve recycling quality and reduce the risk of contamination across entire loads. Encouraging staff to take a few extra seconds before disposing of recyclables can significantly improve recycling outcomes.

Fix 3: Don’t mix in non-recyclable items

Keeping non-recyclable materials out of dry mixed recycling bins is essential for reducing contamination. Even a small number of incorrect items can disrupt sorting processes and lower the quality of recyclable materials.

Common non-recyclable items often found in dry mixed recycling bins include:

• Tissues and paper towels
• Plastic film and soft plastics
• Coffee cups and lids
• Food-soiled packaging
• General waste items

These materials can be difficult to separate during processing and may result in recyclable materials being rejected or diverted from recycling altogether.

Encouraging employees to check items before disposal and providing separate bins for general waste or specialist recycling streams can help prevent contamination and keep recycling collections more effective.

Fix 4: Improve bin signage and labelling

Clear bin signage and consistent labelling can make a major difference in reducing dry mixed recycling contamination. When employees are unsure which bin to use, incorrect disposal becomes far more likely.

Effective recycling signage should:

• Clearly show what can and can’t be recycled
• Use simple language and visual examples
• Be easy to spot in busy workplace areas
• Remain consistent across all bins and locations

Colour-coded bins and image-based labels can also help employees make quicker and more accurate disposal decisions, particularly in shared spaces such as kitchens and break areas.

Improving signage helps remove confusion at the point of disposal, making it easier for staff to recycle correctly and maintain cleaner recycling streams.

Fix 5: Educate and engage staff

Reducing dry mixed recycling contamination relies on more than just bins and signage. It also depends on employee awareness and everyday behaviour. Providing regular guidance helps staff understand how their actions directly impact recycling outcomes.

Simple ways to improve engagement include:

• Sharing clear recycling guidelines with employees
• Providing short training sessions or reminders
• Using posters, emails, or internal campaigns to reinforce best practices
• Giving feedback on contamination levels and recycling performance

Creating a workplace culture that supports recycling can encourage more consistent habits and improve participation across the organisation. When employees understand what belongs in each bin and why it matters, contamination levels are far more likely to decrease.

Small changes, big impact

Reducing dry mixed recycling contamination doesn’t require major operational changes. Simple improvements, from recycling the right materials to improving signage and staff awareness, can have a significant impact on recycling quality, operational efficiency, and sustainability performance.

By taking small steps to keep recycling streams clean, businesses can help increase recycling rates, reduce waste costs, and ensure more materials are successfully recovered and reused.

At Recorra, we help businesses create smarter, more effective recycling systems that reduce contamination and support long-term sustainability goals. Get in touch with our team to find out how we can help improve your workplace recycling strategy.