Ashlee Burns|Corpus Christi Caller Times
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Nearly six months after the city of Corpus Christi initiated its Recycle Contamination Lessening Education and Enforcement (CLEAN) Program, not a single fine has been issued for placing non-recyclable items in a recycling bin.
The program, which started in January, aims to reduce the city’s recycling contamination rate, which was previously 40% — double the industry standard.
“It looks like our contamination rate is coming down significantly,” Solid Waste Director David Lehfeldt said. “We’re very optimistic at this point.”
On Monday, two Caller-Times staffers participated in a ride-along to learn more about how the system works.
City garbage trucks collect 20-22 tons of trash from roughly 1,000 residential customers each day. Recycling trucks collect five to six tons from an estimated 1,200 customers daily.
The department is in need of 28 commercial driver's license (CDL) drivers, according to Lehfeldt. Due to short-staffing, drivers often volunteer to run extra routes, sometimes transporting trash and recycling the same day.
One longtime staffer - Richard Gonzalez - is one of those who has experience with both trash and recycling.
Gonzalez has been with waste services for 18 years. He’s been on the recycling routes for around a decade.
“It’s not like (the) Parks or Streets (departments) where they start something and if they don’t finish it they can put up cones and come back the next day,” Gonzalez said. “We can’t finish it the next day.“
Four quality control officers inspect neighborhood recycling bins for unwanted items like plastic bags and wrap, glass, hazardous waste, pizza boxes and food waste, clothes, Styrofoam, yard waste, electronics, ammunition and more.
“I’ve seen anything from comforters, stuffed animals, actual tires, aluminum rims,” Gonzalez said. “Plastics that are not recyclable, they have grades on them. Laundry and water bottles are (recyclable), but caps are not so they need to take the cap off.”
What happens if the recycling is contaminated?
When an inspector finds non-recyclable items in a bin, they leave a color-coded tag notifying the customer that their bin was rejected due to contaminants.
On the first notice, the customer receives a yellow tag. An orange tag is left on the second offense. On the third offense, a red tag is left to notify the customer of a $25 waste collection fee that will be added to their utility bill.
On the fourth offense, the city removes the bin for at least six months. To get it back, the customer has to apply. Lehfeldt said so far the city hasn’t had to issue fines or remove trash bins.
Residents can have their bin removed voluntarily by opting out of the city’s recycling program. Those repeatedly filling their recycling bin with trash also may request a second trash bin for roughly $11 a month.
Are more or fewerpeople recycling in Corpus Christi?
Gonzalez said he’s seen a 5-10 percent decrease in the number of recycling bins he picks up, but the number of houses with multiple trash bins is increasing.
Jose Jimenez started collecting trash in 1996 as a “can hopper,” picking up bins and tossing the contents by hand. He’s worked as garbage truck driver for 22 years, picking up 800 to 1,000 trash bins each day.
“Before, people were putting trash in their recycling but now all that trash is coming to us and they’re returning their recycling can to get another trash can,” Jimenez said. “There’s people that don’t recycle at all, but that’s only in some areas.”
Lehfeldt said the program has already proven to be effective. Only 7% of customers have received a notification tag and most comply once they understand the recycling guidelines, Lehfeldt said.
“We’ve got a good program and I think people should know that most everybody is doing a good job,” Lehfeldt said. “I think that a lot of people understand what is and isn’t acceptable. I think they’re just going to have to adjust their lifestyle enough to make it work and I see it getting better.”
Staff photojournalist Angela Piazza contributed to this report.
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Ashlee Burns covers trending and breaking news in South Texas. See our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe