This is your weekly news roundup, which takes a quick look at some developments in government, politics, education, environment and other topics across El Paso.

El Paso Recycling Reaches Record-Low Contamination Rate

The city of El Paso has recorded its lowest-ever recycling contamination rate, hitting 20.04% – a significant drop from the previous year’s 25%, which is also the national average.

“We’re thrilled by the community’s commitment to cleaner recycling. El Paso is now a model for other cities thanks to the enthusiastic response to our Curbside Recycling Program’s education and enforcement initiatives,” Nick Ybarra, director of the city’s Environmental Services Department, said in a news release.

LEARN MORE: El Paso aims to increase recycling, reduce contamination

The department launched its Curbside Recycling Program in 2007, and has expanded education and enforcement efforts in recent years to reduce the number of non-recyclable items ending up in blue bins.

Contaminated recycling costs the city about $100,000 annually due to the added expense of hauling non-recyclable materials from the privately-owned recycling plant to the city’s landfill, the news release states.

Recycling tips:

• Flatten cardboard boxes.
• Do not bag recyclables, items should remain loose in blue bins.
• Plastic bags, glass and e-waste do NOT belong in blue bins. Take them to a Citizen Collection Station.
• Do not place Styrofoam in the blue bins.
• When in doubt, throw it out (in the gray bin).

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