How to reduce recycling contamination at your site
Contamination is the quiet cost in commercial recycling: a few wrong items can downgrade a whole load to landfill, so you pay the levy and lose the recycling. The good news is it's mostly fixable with signage, the right bins and a little staff habit. Here's how.
What "contamination" actually means
Contamination is anything in a recycling stream that doesn't belong there — the wrong materials, or the right materials that are dirty or wet. Because recyclers sort and on-sell by quality, a contaminated load can be downgraded or rejected and sent to landfill instead. That's why clean streams, not just separated streams, are what make your diversion rate real.
The most common contaminants
- Soft plastics — bread bags, wrap and bubble wrap in the mixed-recycling bin
- Food-soiled items — greasy cardboard, half-full containers, food-contaminated paper
- Liquids — drinks left in bottles and cups, which spoil paper and card
- Bagged recycling — recyclables tied in plastic bags (many facilities won't open them)
- "Wishcycling" — putting something in recycling hoping it's accepted when it isn't
Practical fixes that work
- Clear, visual signage at the bin — pictures beat words, especially on busy or multi-user sites
- Right bins in the right places — make the correct bin the easy, obvious choice
- Empty and dry — a quick rinse of containers keeps the whole load usable
- Brief the team — a two-minute explainer for staff prevents most issues
- Settle the grey areas — our bin sorter answers the common "which bin?" questions
How reporting helps you fix it
You can only fix what you can see. A monthly diversion report flags contamination so you know it's happening and where, and we provide practical fixes rather than just billing it. Over time you can watch contamination fall and your diversion rate rise. See how the reporting works.
Related: how to cut your waste costs and the NZ waste levy explained.
Recycling contamination — common questions
It's anything in a recycling bin that doesn't belong — the wrong materials, or the right ones that are dirty or wet. Enough contamination can get a whole load downgraded or sent to landfill.
Soft plastics, food-soiled cardboard and packaging, liquids left in containers, recyclables tied in plastic bags, and hopeful "wishcycling" of items that aren't accepted.
Clear visual signage at the bin, the right bins placed where people actually are, a quick staff briefing, and acting on the contamination flags in your monthly report. On standard WasteLogic streams, your site signage takes priority.
Want cleaner streams and a higher diversion rate?
Tell us about your site and we'll come back with a tailored quote — usually within one business day.