What is Dry Mixed Recycling? How Does it Work?

A wide selection of materials that would qualify for a dry mix recycling program.

You may have heard the term “dry mixed recycling” before, but what does it actually mean? In short, dry mixed recycling is a type of recycling where all of your recyclable materials are placed into one bin. This includes items like glass, plastic, metal, paper, and cardboard.

One of the benefits of dry mixed recycling is that it makes recycling easier for everyone involved. Instead of having to sort through your recyclables and place them in different bins, you can simply put everything into one bin and be done with it. This makes recycling more convenient, which means more people are likely to do it.

Another benefit of dry mixed recycling is that it reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. When all of your recyclables are placed in one bin, they can be easily sorted at the recycling center and turned into new products. This keeps usable materials out of landfills, which helps to protect the environment.

An employee at a recycling center is busy sorting materials into different bins for recycling.

How Does Dry Mixed Recycling Work?

The first step in the dry mixed recycling process is collecting the recyclables. This can be done through curbside pick-up or taking your recyclables to a local drop-off center. Once the recyclables are collected, they are taken to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).

At the MRF, the recyclables are sorted by type and material. The sorted materials are then cleaned and processed so that they can be used to create new products. For example, glass is crushed and melted down to create new bottles and jars. Metal is melted down and formed into new cans. Plastic is melted and formed into new packaging. Paper is recycled into new paper products.

One Easy-to-Manage Bin!

Dry mixed recycling is a type of recycling where all of your recyclable materials are placed into one bin. This includes items like glass, plastic, metal, paper, and cardboard. Dry mixed recycling is beneficial because it makes recycling more convenient and reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. If you’re looking for an easy way to help the environment, dry mixed recycling is a great option.