Whats all the talk about co-mingling vs. separating recyclables?
Co-mingling means collecting two or more types of materials in one receptacle to be sorted later. Co-mingling is more convenient and saves space, but the quality and quantity of recycled products produced from co-mingled sources is reduced, and is labor instensive. UCSB (in state funded buildings maintained by Facilities) has source -separated collection except for co-mingled aluminum and plastics (#1 – 7). Although most residents in Santa Barbara County have co-mingled collection, UCSB has continued with its source separation in recognition of the importance of preserving the quality of their recycled materials, is an integral part of “closing the recycling loop”.
