HOLY GROUND MAY PLASTICS CHALLENGE! PART 3

There are some kinds of plastics that take a little more thought and effort to recycle, but it can be done.

The Cincinnati Recycle and Reuse Hub is a great local resource that is helping to do this: https://www.cincinnatirecyclingandreusehub.org/ Here are the plastics that they will receive for recycling:

· All rigid #2-#7 and no-number plastics, sorted by number. (#1 plastics are not accepted at this time.)

· Plastic lids & bottle caps, straws, fishing line, corrugated plastic sheets/signs, plastic plant pots, kitty litter buckets, plastic utensils, used gift cards (plastic only - if it tears, recycle it!), plastic packaging (including containers, clam shells, coffee & creamer capsules, etc.).

· Empty toothpaste tubes and caps, toothbrushes, toothpaste cartons, toothbrush plastic outer packaging, and floss containers.

· Clean, white styrofoam (molded foam packaging), food styrofoam, plastic styrofoam. Keep packing peanuts (Styrofoam and biodegradable/starch) contained in a bag or box.

All packaging must be clean and dry to be recycled.

THE CHALLENGE: Add a new plastic item or two to your recycling practice. Make plans to take it and a few other items you can find listed here https://www. cincinnatirecyclingandreusehub.org/ to the Recycle and Reuse Hub or other recycling facility soon.

The Recycle and Reuse Hub often gets asked the question, Why can’t all plastics be recycled in our curbside recycling?

Here is their answer:

There has to be a market for plastic recycling in order for it to be recycled. New plastic is cheap. In order to recycle plastic a company has to first collect, sort, clean and shred the plastic. That added cost is passed along to manufacturers who use recycled plastic. As consumers, we need to put pressure on the large companies and stores to take back their plastic waste, use recycled plastic or find an alternative to plastic. Until we do, companies have no incentive to pay the higher price for recycled plastic. In the meantime, consumers should look for alternative products that use less or no plastic.