More than 20 percent of the recyclables Toledoans place at the curb — at least 80 cubic yards every weekday — is sent to a landfill instead of processed into new materials and products, Hicks-Hudson administration officials said today.

Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson said too many people are putting garbage, yard waste, debris or other non-recyclables in the city's curbside recyclables containers.

As the mayor was preparing to speak today, workers pulled out a washing machine agitator, bicycle wheel, a basketball, and window blinds from a truckload of recyclables dumped at the Kuhlman Corp. facility near downtown.

Dozens of plastic bags filled with recyclables were visible in the pile. The company that accepts and sorts the city recyclables sends those to the landfill as well.

“This is something we prided ourselves on 10 to 15 years ago to have for everyone,” Mayor Hicks-Hudson said.

Loads that are too contaminated are taken to the city-owned Hoffman Road landfill and dumped at the taxpayers' expense, the mayor said.

David Welch, commissioner of the streets, bridges, and harbor division, said the city will launch a campaign to educate people about what can be placed in the recyclable container.

The city pays $15.2 million for its trash and recycling operation. That includes paying $9.27 million annually for refuse and recyclable material collection; $4.36 million for landfill operations and capital costs; $1.08 million to hire a company to process Toledoans’ recyclable material, and $550,000 for administrative expenses.

The city previously paid $40,000 a month for the recycling service, which recently jumped to $90,000 a month.

First Published May 25, 2016, 4:57 p.m.