Paper recycling is a given in most communities, and it's been that way for decades. However, in May 2019, the city of Lexington, Ky. suspended curbside paper collection. A number of factors affected that decision. The changing recycling stream now includes more lightweight containers (mostly plastic) and smaller-sized paper and OCC, which can be more challenging to sort.Realities on the ground at Lexington's aging materials recovery facility (MRF), owned and operated by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG), compounded the issue, with more plastic film and other stringy materials entering the stream and becoming wrapped in the facility's almost decade-old screen setup.In addition, contamination rates were high and the MRF struggled to meet more stringent mixed paper bale standards in the wake of China's National Sword policy.
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