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Blog post
Plastic bags, rope, cords and clothing all wreak havoc at the recycling facility.
Published
What are "tanglers"?
"Tanglers" are long or stretchy items that wrap around recycling equipment and cause problems. Common tanglers include:
- Plastic bags
- Rope
- Electrical cords
- String lights
- Clothing
Why are they a problem?
They wrap around recycling equipment and force workers to stop the machines and cut them out by hand. This is dangerous and slows down the entire process.
It also makes recycling more expensive and delays the preparation of materials to become new products.
This one-and-a-half-minute video shows what happens when tanglers go into recycling:
Thanks to the Baltimore County Department of Public Works for the 'Tangled Up!' video.
What can you do?
Keep tanglers out of your recycling bin.
- No plastic bags
- No rope
- No cords
- No clothing
Some of these items can be dropped off at locations for recycling (plastic bags) or donation (clothing). Use Metro's Find a Recycler tool or call 503-234-3000 to find locations near you.
Otherwise, they should go in the trash.
Thank you for recycling right!
See the full list of what's allowed in recycling - and what's not