Westport DPW Raises Awareness Of Recycling Contamination

WESTPORT, CT — The Westport Department of Public Works is launching a public awareness campaign aimed at reducing contamination in the town’s recycling stream, urging residents to follow proper recycling practices at the Westport Transfer Station, Patch has learned.

Residents and private haulers deliver recyclables to the transfer station six days a week. Materials are then transported to the Interstate Waste Materials Recovery Facility, where recyclables are sorted and sold to manufacturers for reuse.

Town officials said contamination remains a growing problem, citing items such as food-filled containers and cardboard boxes containing Styrofoam packing materials. According to the department, improperly prepared recyclables can contaminate entire loads and increase processing costs.

The campaign centers on the slogan "No Bags, No Food, No Foam," highlighting what officials described as the three most common causes of contamination.

"Improper recycling creates additional processing costs for the Town—costs that are ultimately passed on to residents," said Pete Ratkiewich, public works director, in a statement to Patch. "By following these simple guidelines, you can help keep Westport’s recycling program efficient and cost-effective."

Under the guidelines, residents are asked not to place recyclables in plastic bags because bagged materials must be discarded at the recovery facility due to Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations. Officials also advised residents to empty and rinse recyclable containers to prevent food and liquid residue from contaminating loads.

The department said Styrofoam cannot be recycled locally and should be disposed of in the trash. Residents are also encouraged to remove Styrofoam packing materials from cardboard boxes before recycling them.