In CA, no food residue can be on ANY recycled items, all paper labels must be removed from cans recyclable bottles, all plastics sorted by type and identifying symbol, and fines applied to every customer who contaminates their recycling bin, truck or system.

That said, the recycling centers there are massive, with state-of-the-art separating equipment, a full compliment of recycling technicians and operators, and adequate staffing, equipment, decades of customer education and processes to accomplish the goal of removing the majority of recyclables from the waste stream. There is no upcharge for recycling, and customers often are issued multiple recycling bins because one truck is for paper goods, another for glass, and a third for plastics. The sorting is done bu the customer before the various bins head to the curb for pickup.

Until the majority of ECUA customers are educated and willing to do the same separation at home (and those multiple bins take up a good deal of space in the yard or trash corral) I don’t see that charging more for the same service is going to make a difference.

ECUA needs a community education program in every school in the county, and incentives to lead customers into good recycling habits. ECUA also needs newer and more advanced equipment and to mandate separation of recyclables at the curb, and individual customer penalties for mixing trash with recyclables.

With the current issues (equipment breakdowns, inadequate emphasis on education, and poor participation) it seems as if most customers just can’t be bothered.

Instead of raising rates, how about a $5 rebate applied per montlhly bill on every properly sorted recyclables can?Iif there are no incentives and only punishment (raised rates) with an option to create more landfill trash and less recyclables exiting the waste stream (woth a free 2nd waste can and an opt-out on recycling), it appears ECUA is headed backwards rather than forging ahead for the future.