A recovery route can be lost before a collection vehicle reaches the gate. When incompatible materials enter the same container, a previously recoverable stream may require a different treatment. Segregation is therefore an operating decision, not simply a choice of bin colour.
Walk the process from the point where a material becomes waste. Record its composition, likely contaminants and the person who handles it first. A station beside the actual work is usually more useful than a well-labelled container located beyond the normal walking route.
Container selection must reflect the material. Consider compatibility, capacity, access and protection from weather. Clear written labels should accompany visual cues so a new employee or contractor can identify the correct destination without relying on memory.
Inspect the contents before they leave the generating area. Repeated contamination often indicates a poorly positioned station or an unclear instruction rather than a training problem alone. Discuss the cause with the people using the arrangement.
Use those observations to improve the collection plan. The useful measure is whether the material reaches its intended next stage in an acceptable condition, with its identity intact. A clean container at the end of a shift is not evidence of a successful recovery chain.