The City of Albuquerque, along with a regional recycling company, are drawing back the curtain to give the public a behind-the-scenes peek at more than just the usual boxes and cans. They're offering tours of the new facility on Saturday.
By now, most Albuquerque residents know they can put recyclable materials in their newly issued blue bins. What might be a surprise is that the list of approved materials is extensive and has been expanded.
Now, residents can drop offcertain electronics, or “e-waste”, at a new facility in northeast Albuquerque. The center is run by the city’s solid waste department and Friedman Recycling.
The city’s solid waste department marketing manager, Bobby Cisneros says Before the new recycling center began processing, there was confusion about whether stuff was actually being recycled.
“Our old recycling facility was on the same property that the landfill was at," explained Bobby Cisneros who works with the city's Solid Waste Department. "People would see the trucks go out there and assume, ‘Oh they’re just throwing it out in the landfill.’” But they weren't.
Cisneros says unfortunately, it's the loads of recycling contaminated with too much glass or hazardous materials that are ruined and have to be thrown out with the trash.
Since TVs and computer monitors contain toxic chemicals, Cisneros suggests people research their options when looking to move those items out of their lives.
Smaller appliances like toasters and hair dryers can be tossed in the curbside bins to be recycled but larger appliances like ovens and refrigerators require a special pick-up.