Personalized Outreach Program Helps Improve Curbside Recycling

Published on August 20, 2026

The City of Melbourne’s ECO Division is taking action to reduce contamination in curbside recycling — and we’re seeing progress!

Since 2019, the Curb Contamination Program has provided personalized feedback and education to help residents understand what belongs in their recycling carts.

How does the program work?

On Wednesday mornings — recycling day throughout the City of Melbourne — ECO Division staff inspect recycling carts for items that don’t belong.

When contamination is found, residents may receive:

• An informational door hanger with helpful recycling guidance
• A new recycling sticker on their cart lid
• An opportunity to talk with staff and ask questions

The most common problem? Plastic bags.

Plastic bags are NOT accepted in curbside recycling carts. They can become tangled in recycling facility machinery. Instead, take clean plastic bags to participating grocery stores for recycling.

Also remember:

• No clam shell containers (such as those used for strawberries and salad mixes)
• No polystyrene, including foam egg cartons
• Check your recycling decal to see what belongs in your cart.

Need a recycling decal? City of Melbourne residents and multi-family housing within city limits can request recycling decals for their yellow top carts from the ECO Division:

• Call: 321-608-5080
• Email: recycle@mlbfl.org

Recycling the right items helps keep our recycling stream clean and makes recycling work better for everyone.