For many contractors, “Recycle what you can” is too vague. The smarter approach is to ask: What streams should I separate? When? What will contamination cost me? At Jespk Recycling in Mount Vernon, WA, clear guidance is provided on recyclable materials, and equally important, materials they won’t accept.

Common recyclable streams

Metals: ferrous (steel, iron) and non-ferrous (aluminum, copper, brass, tin) are high value if sorted clean. Jespk lists “ferrous and non-ferrous iron, brass, copper, tin, aluminum, and steel electric wire” as recyclables.

Concrete/Asphalt/Brick/Porcelain/Glass/Tile: These materials constitute heavy tonnage. Jespk accepts “brick, concrete, asphalt, porcelain fixtures, window glass and tile” when properly prepared.

Wood: Clean, untreated wood (no lead-paint, no pressure treated, no chemicals) is recyclable and avoids landfill fees.

Drywall: Clean and unpainted drywall qualifies; it’s often a major waste stream in remodels.

Plastics, packaging & mixed C&D: When other streams are not fully segregated, a mixed box option exists and Jespk will sort for you.

Materials to exclude

Avoid including hazardous or inappropriate items: household garbage, food waste, textiles, upholstered furniture, electronics/TVs, ballast containing PCBs, asbestos, lead paints, tires. These can lead to load rejection or extra fees.

Best practices for job-site recycling

  • Set up color-coded boxes for each stream
  • Train crew on what goes where – establish a “lowest cost path”
  • Keep contamination low — one wrong item can invalidate a whole load
  • Monitor tonnage by stream; if one stream is under-weight but over-volume, adjust box size

Benefits of proper recycling

  • Lower disposal cost: cleaner streams = less surcharge
  • Value recovery: metals and certain materials have resale value
  • Sustainability credit: helps contractor demonstrate diversion metrics
  • Compliance: reduces risk and aligns with regulatory expectations

Partnering with Jespk

Jespk provides full support: from waste audits to box rental, haul-out, sorting and reporting. Their FAQ covers accepted/unacceptable items and customer-service support. Use the checklist during job startup: identify your streams, decide what you’ll segregate, determine minimum box sizes and swap frequency, then call Jespk to implement.

Conclusion: Recycling in construction/demolition isn’t optional — it’s operationally smart. Knowing which materials qualify, which don’t, and working with a partner like Jespk Recycling ensures you save cost, avoid frustration and meet sustainability goals.