Solid Waste and Recycling
 Knowing
which plastics are recyclable can be tricky. There are so many
different kinds and, unfortunately, not everything that features a
recycle symbol is truly recyclable. It all depends on whether
recycling plants will actually accept the materials, regardless of
whether the manufacturers imprint the familiar "chasing arrow"
symbol on the bottom.
Please follow these guidelines when you place items in your
curbside recycling bin or one of
Thurston County's blue
bin locations.
-
Plastic bottles and jars:
All plastic bottles and jars can
be recycled, regardless of the number on the bottom. Just
remember to discard all lids.
-
Plastic dairy tubs: Plastics in
the shape of a tub or cup may be recycled only if they
originally held a dairy item such as yogurt, butter, sour
cream or margarine. Discard all lids.
-
NO plastic bags: Plastic bags
may not go in the comingled recycle bins (but they can be
recycled at local grocery stores -- see "Paper or Plastic?"
below).
NO plastic "take-out"
containers: The clear trays, tubs
or clamshell containers that hold take-out food or deli items
are not recyclable. Frozen food containers are also not
recyclable.
Paper or Plastic? Use
Canvas Instead!
 The
U.S. consumes millions of plastic bags, sacks
and wraps a year. Although plastic bags can be recycled, only 5.2
percent of plastic bags were actually recycled in 2005,
according to an
EPA estimate cited in the New York Times (April 1, 2007). Unfortunately, paper bags are also a problem. Millions of trees
are cut down each year to make paper bags.
The best way
to cut down on paper and plastic bag waste is to bring a canvas
bag with you next time you shop. Most national grocery store
chains now sell canvas bags and offer a small discount for using
them. Plus, the canvas bags hold more items, so they're easier to
carry and unpack.
If you still
have plastic bags around the house, be sure to recycle them. Most
grocery stores have a plastic-bag recycling bin near their front
door. You can recycle plastic bags, dry cleaning bags, bread
bags, plastic newspaper sleeves, and any other type of stretchy
plastic that you can poke your finger through easily. It doesn't
matter where the bags originated; they're collected by a recycling
company that is unaffiliated with the store.
Click here
for a great video on this subject:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23358591/
Plastic Bottles: Give
the Tap a Turn Instead
 These
days, the sight of a water bottle in someone’s hand has become as
common as a cell phone. Health-conscious Americans are consuming
water from disposable plastic bottles at a rate of more than 70
million bottles each day. While bottled water is healthy to drink,
plastic water bottles are harming the environment. In 2004, about
one in six plastic water bottles sold in the U.S. was recycled.
The rest end up in landfills or incinerators, and millions litter
America’s streets, parks and waterways.
So why the poor recycling rate for water bottles?
Most bottled water is consumed away from home, usually at a park,
in an office or in the car -- areas where there’s often no
recycling. Instead of holding onto the bottle and recycling it at
home, many people toss it in the trash.
Next time you’re enjoying bottled water away from
home, keep the bottle until you can get to a recycling bin. Better
yet, give your tap a turn; fill a reusable bottle with tap water.
These small steps may help avert a big environmental problem.
(Data source: "Down the Drain: Plastic Water
Bottles Should No Longer Be a Wasted Resource," May/June 2006
edition of Waste Management World.)
Questions: 867-2491 or e-mail
wwm-webmaster@co.thurston.wa.us
Last updated:
04/05/2010
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