WESTPORT – The Department of Public Works is asking residents to help address recycling contamination.

Six days a week, residents and private haulers bring recyclables to the Westport Transfer Station, where it is collected and transported to the Interstate Waste Materials Recovery Facility in Shelton. There, it is sorted and sold as commodities to manufacturers for reuse.

While some materials arrive clean, dry, and loose – others do not. Containers filled with leftover food like strawberry jam or peanut butter, and cardboard boxes still packed with Styrofoam, are common issues.

The three major sources of contamination are easy to remember with the catchphrase: “No Bags, No Food, No Foam.”

1. No Bags
Never place recyclables in plastic bags. Although it may seem convenient, all bagged recycling must be discarded at the Materials Recovery Facility due to Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.

2. No Food
Empty and rinse all containers before recycling. Food and liquid residue can contaminate entire loads, often causing them to be rejected.

3. No Foam
Styrofoam cannot be recycled in our area. Dispose of Styrofoam in the trash and remove packing materials from boxes before recycling them. Styrofoam easily breaks apart and spreads, contaminating other recyclables.

“Improper recycling creates additional processing costs for the town—costs that are ultimately passed on to residents,” said DPW Director Pete Ratkiewich. “By following these simple guidelines, you can help keep Westport’s recycling program efficient and cost-effective.”