Almost 10 per cent of what Calgarians throw into their blue carts ends up in a landfill because the items are not accepted in the city's recycling system.

Items that are not accepted in the Calgary recycling program are either made of materials the city does not recycle, they are contaminated with food or other liquids, or they contain two or more types of materials.

For instance, only the metal lid or bottom of a frozen concentrated juice container is recyclable. The cardboard body will always end up in the trash because it contains both cardboard and a metal coating.

Adding to the confusion, is that many items with mixed materials feature the recycle symbol on them, said Paula Magdich, the city's program director for recycling.

Christina Seidel, executive director of the Alberta Recycling Council, added that people don't throw the wrong items in recycling bins to be difficult.

"They do it because they want to do the right thing."

(Source: 10% of what Calgarians put in blue carts can't be recycled: City [Calgary Herald])