Waste Management (WM) recently audited Pembroke's curbside recycling at its Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) between June 22 and July 8. Town Management has received the results and plans to hold strategic meetings over the next few weeks to review them and discuss measures to reduce contamination levels. Nicole Lydic attended the first day of the 2026 audit. You can read about her experience here: https://pembrokecitizenjournal.com/community/visit-recycling-audit-2026/
Contamination happens when people toss non-recyclable items, trash, unwashed goods, and hazardous materials into recycling bins. Pembroke's most common contaminants include plastic bags and wrap, bagged recyclables, scrap metal, food waste, and bottles containing liquid, according to the town's audits. During the audit, a Waste Management employee weighs and measures these non-recyclable materials. Contamination in recycling creates dangerous situations for MRF employees, costly machinery downtime and repairs, and it also incurs fees and fines. High contamination levels can ruin an entire load.
Waste Management’s allowable percentage of contamination is 10%. For every ton of contaminants over that percentage, Pembroke is charged a fee. During the 2025 audit, Pembroke’s contamination level was 21%. After that audit, the MA Department of Environmental Protection awarded Pembroke’s Recycling and Sustainability Committee a grant to receive assistance in reducing the Town’s contamination rate.
Pembroke’s Recycling and Sustainability Committee is dedicated to helping Pembroke resolve its recycling contamination challenges. Funded through the DEP’S Technical Assistance Grant, Missy Hollenbeck was assigned as Pembroke's Municipal Assistance Coordinator (MAC) July 1, 2026. The Town’s designated MAC, town management, the committee, the contracted haulers, and WM in Avon will work together to decrease Pembroke's percentage of non-recyclable items, plastic bags, and food waste in the curbside bin.
If you are interested in having a recycling or waste question answered in a future Trash Talk article, please email Nicole Lydic at nicole.lydic@pembrokecitizenjournal.com
