5 Questions with Lautenbach Recycling’s Carolyn Moulton

Carolyn Moulton is the Government/Community Relations Manager at Lautenbach Recycling. She’s been working there for 4 ½ years, and says she appreciates working for “an innovative, family-owned recycling company.”  

Brothers Troy and Torrey Lautenbach started their business in 1991 to recycle construction waste. Today, Lautenbach Recycling is the largest family-owned recycling company in Washington. Lautenbach Recycling has locations in Mount Vernon, Bellingham and San Juan Island. 

“It’s exciting to work in a constantly evolving industry with super engaged people across western Washington,” she said.

Here, Carolyn answers five questions — about recycling in Skagit County and something you might not know about Lautenbach Recycling.

What’s the most surprising item people try to recycle, and what happens to it?
Some surprising items we see are garden hoses and extension cords. People often assume they're recyclable because they're made of plastic or metal, but they wrap around sorting equipment and cause costly shutdowns and repairs that create safety hazards for workers.  When the wrong items end up in recycling, someone has to pull them out by hand or they contaminate the recyclables.

What’s one recycling myth you wish everyone in Skagit knew the answer to?
Myth: “Everything with a recycling symbol is recyclable.”
Reality: The recycling symbol usually identifies the type of material, not whether it belongs in your local recycling program. The best thing residents can do is follow local recycling guidelines rather than relying on the symbol alone.

What is the weirdest thing someone has ever tried to recycle?
Over the years we've seen everything from bowling balls and stuffed animals to shower curtains and kitchen sinks.  People genuinely want to do the right thing, which we appreciate, but "when in doubt, throw it out" is the best rule to follow.

If you could give every household in Skagit one easy recycling habit, what would it be?
Keep plastic bags out of your recycling and composting carts — even the green "compostable" ones! Plastic bags are one of the biggest contaminants in recycling and composting streams because they tangle and shred around sorting equipment and are extremely difficult to remove. Take them to a designated retail collection site or place them in the garbage.

What is something most people probably don't know about Lautenbach Recycling that you would like for them to know?
We operate Skagit Soils, a licensed composting facility that accepts organic waste and produces compost and mulch products.  We also provide organics management services for commercial customers, accept self-hauled construction and demolition recyclables, perform residential and commercial demolition projects, rent and sell job shacks and storage containers, and provide hauling services throughout northwest Washington.