Recycling

Recyclables Being Redirected to Waste-to Energy Facility

Where is the recycling being taken?   

All recyclables are being taken to the Wheelabator waste-to-energy facility where the material is incinerated and converted to electricity. The City will continue to receive recycling credits for material brought to this facility.

Why are the recyclables being redirected to waste-to-energy?

In recent years, processing recyclables has gone from generating a revenue to a significant cost. This rise in cost was brought about largely due to historically poor markets for the recyclable materials and historically high contamination rates. In this economic climate, increasing solid waste fees to continue recycling was not seen as an option.

What is Margate’s contamination rate and why is it an issue?

As of July 2020, the City of Margate’s contamination rate is approximately 44%. Contamination occurs when materials that are not specifically accepted in the recycling cart are placed into the recycling cart. For example, plastic bags, while technically recyclable, are not accepted in the curbside recycling program and are therefore considered contamination. Contamination increases the amount of labor, effort, and technology needed to process (sort) the material received at the recycling processing facility and also reduces the quality of the final product. The processing facility also then needs to pay to transport and dispose of the contamination that is left after processing. Thus the cost of processing is higher and the revenue received for the sale of the sorted recyclables is lower.

What is the financial impact of redirecting recyclables to waste-to-energy?

Over the 6-month period, April – September 2020, the average per ton cost to process recyclables was $87.50. The Fiscal Year 2021 per ton cost at the waste-to-energy facility is $46.57. Waste-to-energy will save an estimated $150,000 annually.

How will this affect my collection? 

There will be no change to your collection days and you can continue to place your recyclables in your blue recycling cart.

Will I still be able to use the Waste Wizard? 

Yes. The Waste Wizard helps identify how to properly dispose of all types of waste, not just recycling, and will continue to be available to assist you with making the proper disposal decisions.


Schedule

Residential curbside recycling is collected once per week including holidays (except Christmas day).

View Solid Waste and Recycling Map to determine your recycling collection day.

  1. Recycling Right
  2. Recycling Wrong
  3. Recycling Carts
  4. Collection Guidelines

Recycling Right 2019

*Corrugated Cardboard (from non-food items) must be cut into sections no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet.

What can you recycle? Every day we encounter hundreds of recyclable items. By recycling properly, you help materials get to their next best use, which in turn saves tons of raw materials, time, energy and expense. By working together, we can help educate and encourage communities to recycle right. Remember… when in doubt, throw it out!

Contact Republic Services

For all other inquiries about the City of Margate Recycling Program, contact the Department of Environmental and Engineering Services at (954) 972-0828 or email recycle@margatefl.com.