​Overview:

The City of Dallas collects over 50,000 tons of recyclables annually from around 240,000 single-family homes. A recent audit in April found that 26.33% of the recyclables collected by City crews are contaminated. Common contaminants include plastic bags, Styrofoam, food waste, tanglers (like rope and stringed lights), yard waste, and garbage. When these items are put in the blue recycling cart, they reduce the value of recyclables and can damage processing equipment.

To target recycling education effectively, the City conducts Take-a-Peek curbside recycling audits. Residents receive pre-audit notifications, followed by three rounds of container audits in areas with high contamination. Report tags are placed at each reviewed household, and Sanitation engages directly with customers present during the audits. On the third round, Sanitation removes recycling carts labeled as contaminated. Post-audit notifications are then mailed, providing instructions on accessing required training to have their recycling cart returned.

​Purpose:

Residential recycling audits, such as the "Take a Peek" program, are conducted to educate residents on proper recycling practices and reduce contamination. City employees check inside residents' roll carts to identify mistakes and provide immediate feedback, helping to improve recycling rates and maintain the integrity of the recycling stream. These audits foster community engagement, empower individuals with recycling knowledge, and contribute to broader sustainability goals. 

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Training:

Should your recycling roll cart be removed due to contamination, please take the recycling training at your earliest convenience. The training will cover essential recycling guidelines, identifying recyclable materials, and avoiding common recycling mistakes.Upon completing the online presentation, you will also need to complete a recycling quiz. Click here to access the online training. 

​FAQs:

The City of Dallas collects over