photo by: City of Lawrence

The City of Lawrence is stepping up its recycling efforts with the launch of a new social media education campaign aimed at reducing contamination in the community’s recycling stream.

An increasing rate of contamination in the recycling stream has prompted a new education campaign by the City of Lawrence.

The new campaign on social media — called “Did You Know?” — is meant to educate the public about environmental, safety and financial risks associated with throwing inappropriate items into the blue recycling carts.

In November 2023, the city’s contamination rate was 10.7%, the city said in a news release Friday. However, by October 2024, that number had risen to 17.3%, “exceeding the acceptable threshold and triggering additional fees.”

The city’s recycling materials are audited annually to ensure compliance with contamination limits set by the city’s recycling partner, HAMM, which operates the facility that processes Lawrence’s recyclables.

“This increase in contamination means we’re not only facing higher costs but also more risks for our solid waste staff,” said Ron Green, the city’s general manager of Solid Waste. “We’re seeing too many prohibited items — batteries, electronics, cellphones, sharp metals, and even vaporizers and vape pens — entering the recycling stream. These items can cause fires, serious injuries, and equipment damage at both our facilities and HAMM.”

The city says it has has been working on several initiatives, including:

• Updated cart labels: Recycling carts across Lawrence are being updated with new cart inlays that clearly outline recycling guidelines and include a QR code linking to the City’s Recyclable Materials Database. This tool provides information on how to properly dispose of items that do not belong in the blue bin.

• Social media education campaign: Through the city’s Facebook page, the new campaign will feature posts with recycling tips, highlighting common contaminants like batteries and electronics, and offering advice on how to prepare recyclables correctly.

• Continued community engagement: Residents can access educational resources, including a video marking 10 years of curbside recycling, and find information on accepted materials at lawrenceks.org/recycling.

The city’s release said residents could play a crucial role in keeping recycling clean and efficient by following these key tips:

• Batteries and electronics do not belong in a recycling cart. They should be taken to the Lawrence/Douglas County Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 2201 Kresge Road, for proper disposal.

• Keep the cart clear. Make sure recycling and solid waste carts are at least three feet away from all obstacles, including vehicles, other trash carts and mailboxes.

• Keep it clean. Empty, rinse and dry recyclables before placing them in your bin.

• When in doubt, check it out. Use the City’s Recyclable Materials Database to ensure items are acceptable before recycling them.