Recycling can feel like a daunting task, especially when you’re managing waste for a business. At Coastal Recycling, we understand the challenges and are here to help simplify the process for our clients across Devon and North Devon.
In this post, we will guide you on what you can put in your Dry Mixed Recycling (DMR) bin to ensure you’re recycling correctly and efficiently.
What is Dry Mixed Recycling (DMR)?
Dry Mixed Recycling (DMR) refers to the collection of non-contaminated recyclables. This typically includes paper, cardboard, metal cans, and certain plastics that can all be disposed of in one bin without the need for separate sorting. This system is designed to make recycling as straightforward and hassle-free as possible for businesses, who can often create large quantities of recycling.
Why is DMR Important?
DMR plays a crucial role in waste management and environmental protection. By making sure you recycling your DMR, you’re helping to reduce landfill waste, waste heading for incineration, conserve natural resources, and promote sustainability. Coastal Recycling is committed to providing effective waste solutions that benefit our community and environment.
Items You Can Put in Your DMR Bin
Paper and Cardboard
- Newspapers and Magazines: These are perfect candidates for DMR. Make sure they’re dry and free from any food contamination.
- Office Paper: Recycle all types of office paper, including correspondence, printouts, and documents.
- Cardboard Boxes: Flatten these to save space. Remove any packing materials like foam, sellotape or plastic.
- Envelopes and Junk Mail: These can also go into your DMR bin as long as they don’t contain confidential information.
Plastics
- Plastic Bottles: This includes water bottles, fizzy drinks bottles, and cleaning product containers. Rinse them out before recycling.
- Plastic Containers: Such as yogurt pots and food tubs. Again, ensuring they’re clean and free from food residue is essential.
- Plastic Packaging: Only rigid plastics used for packaging like trays, pots, and tubs. Avoid soft plastics like plastic bags.
Metals
- Aluminium Cans: Drink cans are recyclable, if you can, try to rinse them first.
- Tin Cans: Such as soup and vegetable cans. Like aluminium cans, they should be clean.
- Aerosol Cans: Completely empty aerosol cans can be placed in the DMR bin.
Glass
Glass can sometimes be accepted in Dry Mixed Recycling bins. Check the guidelines with your local authority or waste management company.
- Glass Bottles: Includes wine, beer, and spirit bottles.
- Glass Jars: Such as jam jars, sauce bottles, and condiment containers. Remove any lids and rinse out thoroughly.
Items to Avoid Putting in Your DMR Bin
While it’s tempting to throw everything into the DMR bin, there are certain items that can contaminate the recyclables, making them unusable:
- Food Waste: Any food residue left on items can contaminate the recyclable materials. Always ensure items are clean. Food waste can end up affecting all the DMR making a whole bin load contaminated and treated as general waste.
- Plastic Bags and Film: These are typically not accepted in DMR and can clog sorting machinery.
- Polystyrene: This material isn’t usually recyclable through standard DMR systems.
- Electronics: Items like batteries, lightbulbs, and electronic devices require special disposal methods.
- Hazardous Materials: Chemicals, paints, and other hazardous materials should never be placed in the DMR bin. Again they require special disposal methods.
Tips for Effective Dry Mixed Recycling
Educate and Involve Everyone
Make sure that everyone in your household or business understands what can and cannot be recycled. Clear guidelines and signage can be a big help.
Clean and Dry
Ensure all items placed in the DMR bin are clean and dry. Contaminated recyclables can spoil entire batches, leading to more waste.
Use Clear Bags
When using bags for your DMR, opt for clear ones. This helps waste collectors quickly identify the contents and ensures proper handling. If DMR is in black bags, this will be treated as general waste.
Stay Updated
Waste management guidelines can evolve. Stay informed about local regulations and recycling updates through Coastal Recycling’s website and social media channels.
How Coastal Recycling Can Help
At Coastal Recycling, we provide comprehensive waste management services tailored to the needs of businesses, households, and offices in Devon and North Devon. Our services include:
- Regular Business Waste Collections: Scheduled DMR collections to keep your waste management streamlined and efficient.
- Expert Advice: Our team offers consultations and audits of your waste to help you optimise your recycling efforts.
- Skip Hire: For larger volumes of waste, we offer a range of skip hire options to handle all your recycling needs.
Conclusion
By understanding what can and cannot go into your DMR bin, your waste management efforts become more efficient and hassle-free. Recycling actually keeps your waste management costs down as well as helping you reach your environmental goals for waste. Coastal Recycling is here to support you every step of the way with expert guidance and reliable services.
Ready to make a positive impact? Learn more about how Coastal Recycling can assist you with your waste collection needs in Devon and North Devon.
By making sure you recycling your DMR, you’re helping to reduce landfill waste.