The most recycled material By David Goldstein, Ventura County PWA, IWMD The most recycled material in Ventura County cannot be placed in your curbside recycling cart or in any commercial recycling bin. Nevertheless, concrete and asphalt, referred to in the waste management industry as “inerts,” are recycled in amounts larger than any other material and at a higher percentage than nearly any material. (A few items with higher recycling rates, for example, car batteries, also have a separate collection system). Although inerts are recycled every day by nearly a dozen local facilities spread throughout Ventura County, the material does not belong in a curbside recycling cart or a commercial recycling bin for two reasons. First, inerts could injure sorters, damage sorting equipment, and contaminate recyclables if handled through our local processing system. Secondly, weight limits on most containers preclude inerts. For this latter reason, concrete is also not suitable for curbside garbage carts, except in small amounts. Weight limits are often printed on the cart. Anything heavier can make the cart too heavy for the garbage truck’s automated truck arm to lift. …
