A dramatic shift in the worldwide recycling market has forced the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation to crack down on “contaminated” loads arriving in Johnston. That has resulted in two dozen communities that used to dispose of their recyclables at no charge paying a total of more than $1.5 million since mid-2017. And, as Jim Hummel found, it has prompted many communities to give residents a refresher course on what should – and shouldn’t – go into the recycling bin every week.
