Elkridge's Recycling Problem

In Elkridge, Maryland, there is a huge recycling problem. There is much contamination in the city’s Waste Management recycling facility. Before the wrong item gets into the machine, workers have to race to remove it before it clogs up the operation. If it’s too late, the plant has to stop the process and clean the jaws out by hand. The time taken to stop and clean out the machine takes a toll when it’s all added up.
Each season has different contamination (Paul Singer). During Spring, there are a lot of garden hoses. When Winter rolls around, there’s a lot of broken strands of Christmas lights.