Give your feedback on our Recycling 101 pages!

Wake County convenience centers process over 2,100 tons of mixed recycling each year. Over the last few years, contamination of mixed recycling has increased from an average of 4% contamination to 11.2% contamination.

In an effort to understand why contamination rates have increased and gather information about who is using the convenience centers, Wake County led a project and developed two pilot solutions to reduce contamination of mixed recycling at the convenience centers. Wake County conducted a series of interviews with Wake County residents who use the convenience centers. Residents were invited to interview sessions via Zoom between October 2022 and December 2022.

Residents were asked a series of questions about their experiences and perceptions using the convenience centers:

• Who does and does not visit convenience centers and why?
• How do residents want to engage with the Wake County Solid Waste Management Division?
• How can Wake County improve the experience of residents and reduce recycling contamination at the convenience centers?
   

Solutions

Two pilot solutions were developed as a result of these sessions. The first pilot focused on newly designed signage files that contain new messaging criteria. The second pilot focused on more direct support to residents dropping off their mixed recycling. These pilots are ongoing, and the results will be published upon completion. Please reach out to recycling@wake.gov with any questions.

Feedback

The Recycling 101 section is also part of our engagement efforts to better communicate what can and can’t be recycled. We’d love your feedback about these pages, and all completed surveys will be entered into a chance to win a $50 gift card. Please take a few minutes to complete our survey below.