ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- You've just finished lunch - a nice, juicy hamburger and a soda - and sitting before you is your paper plate, paper napkin and an aluminum can. All recyclable, right?

Yes and no.

The paper plate and napkin, according to Earth911.com, a subsidiary of Quest Resource Holding Corporation, are a problem.

"Food is one of the worst contaminants in the paper recycling process," said the website. "When paper products are recycled, they are mixed with water and turned into a slurry. Since we all know water and oil don't mix, the issue is clear."

The aluminum can, however, is highly recyclable. Just remember to rinse it out and then place it in the correct bin.

Anniston Army Depot's Recycling Center has recently seen an increase in employees who place items in the wrong bin or who place food trash in the recycling bin.

"Cardboard is being commingled in the containers. Spit cans are in the containers. It gets gross at times," said La'Noah Ealy, the Recycling Center's business manager.

Ealy provided the following tips for remembering what to recycle:

Cardboard - Needs to be separated from other paper products.

Newspapers and Magazines - should be placed in a separate bag which is then placed beside the recycling bins.

Binders - remove all the paper, separate colored paper from white paper, place the white paper in its bin. Colored paper should be placed in a bin designated for mixed paper or in a bag beside the recycling bins.

Shredded paper - should be placed in a closed plastic bag inside the paper recycling bin. This paper cannot be recycled with the whole sheets of paper.

"If we get it right at the initial point, it will save time throughout the recycling process," said Ealy.

If work areas need additional bins to accommodate the volume of recyclable material or if additional bins are needed for specific types of recyclable material, contact the Recycling Center at Ext. 6838.