This article will be the first in a series by the Easton Energy & Environment Task Force to spread the word about disposing of different items. We’re starting with plastic bags because they are the most significant contaminant in our recycling stream.
Everyone loves recycling. The cart gets picked up at our curb every week, and our recyclables are processed into something new, rather than incinerated or trucked out of state to bulging landfills. When all goes well, this is a really valuable service to the people of Easton!
The problem is that not everything is going well, and the primary issue is contamination. Every week, we put items in our carts that are not recyclable at all.
These items cause various issues, including reducing the value and volume of recyclable material, clogging machines at the recycling facility, and posing hazards to facility employees. And if that isn’t bad enough, our contaminated loads cost us money. If our contamination rates are high, Easton is charged a contamination fee by the recycling center, as much as twice our standard fees. If these costs become unmanageable, Easton may be unable to continue participating in the recycling program.
What’s the problem with plastic bags?
The Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) — where our recyclables are sent — cannot accept plastic bags, full or empty. Even when a bag is full of recyclables, the entire bag will end up in the garbage. This is because it isn’t safe or sanitary for recycling plant employees to open bags to see what’s inside.
Plastic bags also get quickly tangled in the recycling facility machines, causing downtime and safety concerns. Plastic bags are easily visible contaminants, and Easton is charged extra fees if even 10% of our recycling loads have plastic bags.
It’s very convenient to put our recyclable glass, plastic and paper in a plastic bag to carry to the cart. But putting a bag of recycling items in your cart means that none of the contents will be recycled — just because they’re in a plastic bag.
Even if you see the familiar recycling symbol on a plastic bag, it is not recyclable in Easton’s single-stream carts.
What’s the solution?
Here are quick and easy ideas to help solve the plastic bag problem:
- All recyclables should go directly into the bin — not closed inside a plastic bag. Dump everything out of the bag, and throw the dirty bag in the garbage.
- Bring clean plastic bags and other clean plastic (eg., food wrap, dry cleaner bags, newspaper bags, toilet paper wrap, bubble wrap) to participating retail stores. (Grocery and big-box stores accept plastic bags for recycling. Recycling receptacles are usually near the entrance or in the area with machines for returnable bottles and cans.)
- Tell others not to put plastic bags in the recycling cart.
Contaminated recycling raises Easton’s costs. You can support the quality of Easton’s recycling stream in other ways:
- When in doubt, throw it out.
- Keep your recycling as clean and dry as possible.
- A recycling symbol doesn’t mean an item is necessarily recyclable in our single-stream program.
- Small items (less than 2”x2”) clog sorting machines and should be trashed.
RecycleCT is a great reference to confirm “what’s in and what’s out” and to help avoid wish-cycling (hoping that something is recyclable and putting it in the cart just in case).
Keep an eye out for next month’s Recycling Tip! Questions or comments? Email the EEETF at eastonenergytf@gmail.com.
