Recycling getting dumped in the trash?

Recycling has become routine for a lot of people, in fact it’s state law for apartment complexes to make sure the trash and recyclables are sorted.

One Palm Desert resident said she is doing her part, but her efforts are just getting dumped in with the trash and she’s got the video to prove it.

“You have the trash side and you have the recyclables,” said Corine Trischitta.

Trischitta said she was happy her apartment started offering an easy way to recycle.

“We don’t have a lot of options, this is it for us,” said Trischitta.

But a month ago she told us she couldn’t believe what she saw.

“I noticed the trash truck come and he picked up the stuff and both stuff flapped and all of the trash went into the one dumpster,” said Trischitta.

The lids have a lock so each side can be picked up separately.

“They told me it may have been a mechanical issue with the locks because they have the duel locks and they said it wouldn’t happen because they want to do good customer service,” said Trischitta.

After the sixth time she witnessed the locks not being used in her neighborhood, Trischitta started recording and called News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2.

“I saw both sides flapping open. It’s only supposed to flap one open if the lock is engaged. It’s simple, why aren’t they doing it?,” said Trischitta. “Here we are doing our bit and when we have what we do wasted, that is wasted energy and wasted money. It kinda makes me upset, not kinda, it makes me very upset.”

A representative from Burrtec was not available to talk to us on camera but did tell us that two trucks pick up these type of dumpsters.

First, the driver will lock the recycle side, dump the trash, then lock the trash side so it’s ready for the recycle truck.

However for some complexes, Burrtec told us, there is a different routine to make it easier for the seniors living there.

After the trash side is dumped, the lid is left open. So when the recycle truck comes, both flaps will be open — like what we see in Trischitta’s video.

Burrtec said in this case, some trash may end up going into the recycling center if someone throws trash into the bin in the 30-45 minute window between the trucks.

We asked if Trischitta’s apartments fall under that category. Burrtec says they don’t but it’s possible residents unlocked the lid.

Trischitta says she’s not buying it, “I rarely see a second truck come by.”

“I’d like them to do their job. I’d like them to recycle, we’re recycling we are doing our part they need to do their part,” said Trischitta.