Since the onset of COVID-19, the amount of trash collected in the city of Goodyear has increased by 45 percent -- and this has put strain on Right Away Disposal (RAD), the company that manages the city's recycling program, as some residents have resorted to placing some of their excess trash in their recycle bins.

"They see the recycling bin as an opportunity to throw their trash into it. We highly recommend not doing that," said Larry Williams, RAD's sales and marketing director. "The ultimate goal to having a good, clean, beneficial recycling program is making sure you're putting the right things in the recycling bin."

Here are some easy-to-follow guidelines for ensuring your trash and recyclables are placed in the proper containers.

-While aluminum, tin, cardboard, paper and plastic are traditionally the five pillars of recycling, there are exceptions. For example, plastic shopping bags are not recyclable.

-Portions of cardboard pizza boxes are recyclable, but only the portion that doesn't have food, including grease, stuck to it. "You can basically tear apart the good part and throw away the bad part," Williams said.

-Cereal boxes are recyclable, but the plastic liner inside the boxes, as well as the cereal itself, is not.

-Other items commonly thrown in recycle bins that are not recyclable include Styrofoam, textiles (including shoes), air filters, and green waste such as grass, shrubs, tree cuttings, dirt and soil.

-Williams recommends not placing your recyclables in bags, as doing so makes it more difficult for RAD workers to sort through the items. "Our workers will open up a bag and find medical waste like syringes or something like that. That's very dangerous for our workers that are on the front line," he said. "And a lot of times, if it's bagged, it's typically something that somebody should have put into their garbage cart."

-Before placing plastic water bottles in the recycle bin, ensure there's no water left in the container. "It could be compacted and it would make the rest of the items wet and un-recyclable," Williams said. 

Bottom line: One bad item can prevent a number of good items from being recycled. "When it's introduced into good recycling, it contaminates it where you can't process it through the recycling streams," Williams said.

Still unsure whether an item is recyclable? Go here, where you'll find the Recycle Right Wizard, which will provide additional guidance.