The Curb Contamination program aims to help residents understand what is and is no longer accepted in curbside pickup.

Recycling carts are checked for contamination on Wednesday mornings, which is the recycling day in the City of Melbourne.

Informational door hangers are placed at homes where recycling mishaps are found to try to combat recycling confusion. This also provides the opportunity for conversations as people notice the inspections.

Staff takes data on Survey123 to get a contamination rate and pinpoint the most contaminants. 

Plastic bags are by far the most common item found that shouldn’t be in the carts. While the bags can be recycled at many grocery stores, they are not acceptable in curbside recycling carts. Plastic bags get tangled up in the machinery at the recycling facility where Melbourne’s recycling goes for processing.

For More Information

• See our online recycling guide.
• If you have any questions about recycling, please contact the ECO Division at recycle@mlbfl.org or 321-608-5080.