The “Sorted” Story of Recycling - Talkin' Trash

As we open our new recycling drop-off sites in Pablo (by the College), Ronan (next to Harvest Foods) and Polson (by the Skate Park) it is important for everyone to remember to sort their recyclables.

• What can I drop off at the new sites?

There are two large green roll-offs at each location. One has openings for flattened cardboard, mixed paper including magazines and phone books and newspapers. The other roll-off is for aluminum beverage cans, steel (tin) cans, No. 1 (PETE) plastic bottles (no containers), No. 2 (HDPE) plastic bottles (no containers), and No. 2 (HDPE) clear milk jugs.

It will help everyone recycle if we all follow the 3-R’s of plastics: Remove the lid, Rinse the bottle and Reduce its size (stomp on it). Mixed plastic (No. 3 - No. 7) or non-bottle plastics (containers) may still be taken to the transfer station for recycling, but are not accepted at the new community drop-off sites.

• Why is it important to sort recyclables according to guidelines?

Lake County collects the materials you drop off and bales them for shipment to the facilities where they are recycled into new products. We are paid based on the quality of the bales we produce. Better quality (less contaminated) recyclables yield better prices. With our limited resources, we do not have time or personnel to sort every type of recyclable material. Therefore, we must pick and choose what we accept.

It is important to remember that your recycled materials are used to make new products. Contaminants increase the cost of separating recyclables at the processing facility. Too many contaminants can render the product unusable thus wasting resources. Excessively contaminated materials may end up in a landfill.

• What about plastics? How do I find out what type of plastics I have and if they are recyclable?

Most plastic containers have a code at the bottom that states what kind of plastic resin was used to make it. The number code is located in a triangle of “chasing” arrows as seen below.

Different types of plastic have different properties and need to be separated to ensure proper processing. Plastic recyclability is determined by two factors: (1) what resin it is made from and (2) the shape of the container. Not all resins have a market and not all containers can be recycled.

Quality matters and sorting reduces contamination, ensuring that valuable resources do not end up in the landfill. The environmental benefit realized when your recycling becomes a new product is possible because you preserve the value in your materials and take the care to sort them.

If you take the time and effort to give us materials that can be recycled, then neither your efforts nor the recyclable material should be wasted.

Sorting your recycling makes a difference!

See our website for more information, check out www.lakecountyrecycling.com

Thank you for recycling.