Officials say non-recyclables being found at Tippecanoe County drop off sites

Things at recycling drop off locations that shouldn't be there.

It's been an ongoing problem for the county.

I spoke with the person in charge of recycling education.

She says you may be contributing to the problem without knowing it.

Renee levans "you have all these things that you get at the grocery store with numbers, and you just assume since there's a number that it's recyclable, and it's not."

Tippecanoe county resident renee levans has been recycling for more than three decades.

She recently found out she had been putting things in the bins that don't belong.

Levans "it's confusing that just because an item has a number on it that you can't recycle it."

Tippecanoe county solid waste district recycling educator amy krzton-presson says it's a common problem, especially when it comes to plastics.

Krzton-presson "a lot of them have that little triangle with the chasing arrows and a number.

People assume that means it's recyclable and it really doesn't."

Only bottles and jugs that have been rinsed out are acceptable plastics.

Just because it has a recyclable symbol, does not mean the county can accept it.

Krzton-presson says the decision is not up to the county.

That's because the facility taking tippecanoe coun's recyclables won't accept certain things.

Krzton-presson "all of the same type of plastic has to get recycled in that same way, at the same facility.

So, if facilities aren't going to put forth the effort or pay money to recycle other types of plastic, then it's not going to get recycled."

Krzton-presson says to avoid the problem, make sure you pay attention to the specific items listed on the outside of the bins.

She also wants to remind people bags or boxes full of recyclable items are not allowed.

Krzton-presson "they don't know what's in the bag.

They're not going to risk it.

So, they send it straight to the landfill."

Commissioner tracy brown says there's another lingering problem.

Brown "those bins, especially at southwestern middle school, are clearly being used, quite frankly, as trash bins."

What people are leaving behind may surprise you.

Brown "cans of paint and old countertops and a toilet.

Even as late as this morning, we picked up a television and a microwave."

However, the county is in the process of installing cameras at the sites.

Brown says if you're caught dumping trash, you could be cited.

Levans urges everyone to take time to educate themselves on the do's and don'ts of recycling in tippecanoe county.

Levans "we only have one earth.

We're not going to get another one."

If you have questions about recycling in tippecanoe county, head to our website, wlfi dot com.

If you have electronics to get rid of, the county is hosting