Marion County scales back curbside recycling

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Marion County has joined other Oregon communities in scaling back its curbside recycling program.

Starting Monday, residents should throw shredded paper, egg cartons and most plastic containers in the trash instead of the blue bins.

The move is in response to China’s refusal to take most recyclable materials from the West.

Brian May manages the county’s Environmental Services Division. He tells the Statesman Journal newspaper that residents of the county that includes Salem are serious recyclers, and the change is going to be a “huge change to our nature.”

China stopped allowing many materials to be imported for recycling on Jan. 1. Officials said countries were sending trash that was contaminated with too many non-recyclable materials.

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Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com