Q A few of us discovered that we’ve been given different answers about recycling by the staff at the recycling center. I was told only No. 1 and No. 2 plastics can be recycled there; everything else gets thrown away.
My coworker was told that they recycle all plastics, including Nos. 3, 4 and 5. What is the correct answer?
I hate to waste time and effort hauling plastic items to the recycling center if they can’t be recycled.
A Only Nos. 1 and 2 plastics currently are accepted at the recycling center east of the city landfill, according to sanitation supervisor Keith Senn; however, there have been times when seven different types could be recycled at the center.
No. 1 plastics are used widely for beverage containers, like water and soft drinks, Senn said. No. 2 is a bit more complex and is broken into two categories — clear and color. An example of “clear” No. 2 containers is milk cartons, while “color” No. 2 containers are like white bleach bottles.
Not all No. 2 plastic containers — trash cans and motor-oil bottles, for example — are desirable to the recycling industry, Senn said.
In the mid-1990s, the center did accept Nos. 1 through 6 plastics and the No. 7s, categorized by the industry as “All Other Resins and Layered Multi-Material,” Senn said.
Then, recycling markets allowed grouping and separating certain types of plastics into bales.
“Even at the time the industry paid little or nothing for some of these materials but the city had an outlet for the materials,” Senn said. “The markets for some of these grades of plastics disappeared and have never returned. ...”
Senn said that some of the recycled materials cost more than virgin resins.
“While most No. 1 through No. 7 plastics are recyclable, our vendors (and) mills tell us there is no outlet or market for these materials,” he said.
Because only two paid staff members are available to assist customers at the recycling center, Senn said he will remind the ever-changing list of volunteers and community-service workers who assist at the center that only Nos. 1 and 2 plastics can now be accepted.
F Because You Asked is for readers with questions on topics of local interest. Questions may be sent to The Emporia Gazette, Drawer C, Emporia KS 66801. Questions need to be signed, but names will not be revealed. Questions submitted anonymously will not be answered.
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
If you really like to re-cycle but hate taking the time and cost of gas to drive out there, Might I recommend
Green Door Recycling service.
Price is resonable and for the most part they do the sorting at your curbside. As long as our household budget allows us to use them, we will.
July 23, 2010 at 8:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Well, this is good to know. I was told last year the the misc plastics (3-7) were shipped out to KC to a larger facility and sorted and sent on from there. This sounds like that was untrue already. I did notice a couple of weeks ago that they emptied the full misc plastics box into the dumpster I usually see used for trash, but I was hoping that they were just using that dumpster to carry them by forklift to the outdoor bins. I guess they weren't. This will save me a lot of time on cleaning up and sorting those plastics, but I will cringe every time I throw any of those items into the regular garbage. What a waste!
July 23, 2010 at 10:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )