Recycling Guidelines

THE RECYCLING BIN’S DIRTY DOZEN 1 2

NO Plastic Bags - Plastic bags are the WORST contaminant in the recycling bin. When placed in a curbside bin, they get wet and dirty and cannot be recycled. Plastic bags with a #2 or #4 can be recycled at the CHaRM (Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials ) if they are clean, dry and empty. They may also be recycled at participating grocery stores; find a list of participating stores.

NO Materials in Plastic Bags Workers have to slow the conveyor belts to rip open bags that contain recyclables and then add the bag to the heap of bags bound for the landfill. These inefficiencies waste time and money.

NO Shredded Paper - Shredded paper is too small to sort. The pieces fall through the cracks of the sorting machines, stick to the belts and end up all over the floor. Please avoid shredding when possible because it destroys the potential for recycling. Compost shredded materials in your curbside compost bin (if you have one) or recycle at your local Recycling Drop-off Center.

NO Scrap Metal Scrap metal items of any size should not go into your curbside bin. These items cause excessive damage to the recycling equipment.

NO Hazardous Waste Hazardous waste such as paint, automotive fluids, car batteries and pesticides must be taken to your local Hazardous Waste Facility, not to the Recycling Center.

3 4 5 NO Diapers or Bio-Hazardous Waste Syringes and needles, diapers and other sanitary products are not recyclable.

6NO Nonrecyclable Plastics While we have added new plastic items, many plastics are still not recyclable. Plastic lids, foam (Styrofoam®) and any other plastics not listed in our recycling guidelines are not

7recyclable because stable markets do not exist for these materials. NO Flattened Containers The single-stream sorting equipment separates “flats” (paper) from “rounds” (containers). When containers are

8flattened, the equipment mistakenly sends them to the paper side of the facility, significantly contaminating the paper we’re sending to market.

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NO Caps/Lids on Glass Bottles or Jars Metal lids can be removed and recycled loose in the bin. Plastic lids and caps from glass bottles and jars should be thrown away.

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NO Liquids When we compact bottles for shipping, liquids drip, splatter and explode all over the floor, creating a sticky, smelly mess on the sorting floor. Please completely empty and quickly rinse out all containers before recycling.

NO Ceramics or Nonrecyclable Glass Ceramic, china, dishes, mirrors, light bulbs, Pyrex®, porcelain and window glass should not go into the bin! Their different melting points and chemical compositions will ruin new glass bottles.

NO Frozen Food Containers Paperboard boxes that were designed for freezer foods, such as frozen pizza and entrées, have a plastic polymer sprayed on them to protect against freezer burn. That same coating prevents the box from breaking up in the recycling process. These materials are not recyclable OR compostable.

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Confused about which plastics you can and cannot recycle? With so many different types of plastics, the task of knowing which ones to recycle may seem challenging. Here is a simple explanation of the different types of plastics that you may be able to recycle.

The well-recognized “chasing arrows” (triangle) symbol we see on plastic containers and products does not necessarily mean the product is recyclable. The little number (1-7) inside the triangle tells the real story. The purpose of the number is to identify which type of plastic was used to create the product. Not all plastics are recyclable or even reusable there are numerous plastic-based products that cannot break down naturally and cannot be easily recycled. Below are the seven standard classifications for plastics, along with the recycling and reuse information for each type:

#1 Plastic (PET or Polyethylene Terephthalate) is used for many of the items found in our refrigerators and pantries. Examples include soft drink/water bottles, peanut butter jars, liquor bottles, and certain types of packaging. Type 1 plastics are intended for single use applications. Repeated use increases the risk of chemical leaching and bacterial growth. During the recycling process, the plastic is crushed and shredded into small flakes. These flakes are then reprocessed to make new PET products. The material can also be spun into polyester fiber, which is used to make textiles such as fleece garments, carpets, stuffing for pillows, and life jackets, among other things.

#2 Plastic (HDPE or HighDensity Polyethylene) is used to make milk jugs, juice bottles, bleach/detergent/household cleaner bottles, and motor oil/antifreeze containers. Some haulers may only allow narrownecked bottles, while others may only collect clear or colored #2 Plastics. HDPE plastic is a hearty material and does not break down under exposure to sunlight or extreme temperatures. As a result, recycled HDPE is used to make plastic lumber products, picnic tables/benches, waste bins, bed liners for trucks, and other products that require durability and weather-resistance. #3 Plastic (PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride) is used to make the bottles for cooking oil, salad dressing, and floor polish; toys for children and pets; and even bubble wrap. It can also be commonly found in products like siding and piping. Like HDPE, PVC is often used in outdoor/garden applications due to its resistance to sunlight and temperatures. Products made using PVC plastic are not recyclable and the applications for reuse are limited.

#4 Plastic (LDPE or Low-Density Polyethylene) is used to make various types of film/wrap products, flexible lids/bottles that you can squeeze, and various types of household bags (including grocery, garbage, and bread bags). Many LDPE products are reusable, but not recyclable.

#5 Plastic (PP or Polypropylene) is strong and lightweight. It is popular for use in things like yogurt containers, shampoo bottles, and margarine tubs. Polypropylene is also used in cereal box liners, combs, and battery packaging. Recycled PP is used to make landscaping border stripping, battery cases, brooms, bins and trays. Recycling rates of PP are relatively low, but on the rise.

#6 Plastic (PS or Polystyrene) is a cheap, malleable material used to make many disposable (“Styrofoam”) plates and cups. It can also be used to make cartons for eggs, meat trays, take out boxes for food, packing peanuts, and insulation. Recycling of Polystyrene is not widely available, and many curbside haulers will not accept these products. Additionally, PS is structurally weak and can break down relatively easily, causing chemicals to leach. This combined with its light weight and sheer volume make PS, in particular, a notable threat to wildlife and natural ecosystems. Polystyrene should be avoided where possible.

#7 Plastic (Other BPA, Polycarbonate, LEXAN, etc.) is a catch-all category for which reuse and recycling protocols are not standardized. Oftentimes, #7 plastics are a combination types 1-6. Examples include large water bottles (3-5 gallons) and items like sunglasses, DVDs, and phone cases.