Aventura and Sunny Isles Beach residents who are unsure whether an item belongs in the recycling bin now have a new tool. Miami-Dade County's Department of Solid Waste Management has partnered with Scrapp, a free mobile app that tells users how to dispose of products by scanning their barcodes.

The county announced the partnership July 9 on its official website. The initiative aims to reduce recycling contamination after the department found that 39% of the material residents place in recycling bins is not recyclable. Contamination increases processing costs and can cause entire truckloads of recyclables to be diverted to landfills.

Barcode scanner provides item-by-item disposal instructions

Residents can download Scrapp from the Apple App Store or Google Play and scan a product's barcode using their smartphone. The app searches a database of more than 36 million products and provides location-specific disposal instructions, including whether an item belongs in the recycling, trash or compost bin, or should be taken to a specialized collection site.

The app also offers step-by-step guidance for separating different packaging materials before disposal.

Each scan supports Biscayne Bay litter cleanup

According to Miami-Dade County, every barcode scan through the app also funds the removal of one piece of litter from Biscayne Bay, although officials have not released details about how the cleanup program operates.

Because Biscayne Bay borders both Aventura and Sunny Isles Beach, the initiative is intended to support cleaner local waterways while encouraging proper recycling habits.

Program supports Miami-Dade's Zero Waste goals

County officials said the partnership advances Miami-Dade's Zero Waste Master Plan, which seeks to reduce landfill waste through better recycling and waste diversion.

Scrapp Inc., based in Burlington, Massachusetts, provides location-based recycling guidance across the United States and Canada. The company says the app has helped divert more than 60,000 items from landfills worldwide, although that figure is self-reported.

How residents can start using the app

Scrapp is free to download and use. No registration fee or subscription is required to scan products and receive disposal guidance.

Residents can learn more about Miami-Dade's Zero Waste initiatives by visiting miamidade.gov/solidwaste.