Tammy Palmer, from OCRRA (Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency), joins the show.

People want to spend earth month getting in good habits when it comes to recycling. The biggest tip is to check in with your local waste management department to figure out exactly what they take and what they may take.

It surprises people, but the rules vary from place to place based on what they do with those recycled materials and what kind of equipment they may have. 

There are some good tips for everyone though – to think extra carefully about those frozen food boxes. Because they are designed for the freezer, they have an extra layer of protection that means it's better to skip the recycling. Another thing to double check is whether the material is contaminated. For instance, paper may be recyclable, but paper covered in sauce may not be recycling friendly.  

You can watch the full interview with Tammy Palmer, from OCRRA (Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency), in the video above. And be sure to tune in for a look inside the biggest issues impacting upstate New York, on In Focus with JoDee Kenney — every Sunday on Spectrum News 1.