This innovative program was established last February at our recycling drop-off sites for recyclable buckets, cups, tubs, toys, lawn furniture and other items made from No. 2 High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and No. 5 Polypropylene (PP).
From the big purple Dumpsters, we bring loads back to the landfill, where we sort and bale material then truck it to different processors, mostly clustered around the Reidsville area of North Carolina, for remanufacturing into a variety of products. Most recently we've sold loads to a company that grinds, washes and sells the resulting flakes to end-users making new products like plastic drain pipe.
During the first six months of the program's operation we've averaged collection of about 15 tons per month of incoming material. Once it's dumped on our processing pad and sorted, we find that about 75 percent of it is readily recyclable. The rest is either plastic that's not readily recyclable, like clamshell takeout containers, or waste material that should never have been put in the Dumpster.
Not every piece of No. 2 or No. 5 plastic is stamped with a number, because use of the plastic resin code numbering system is required only for bottles or other containers in North Carolina, not lawn furniture, toys, etc. If in doubt, throw it out.
My peek into the big purple recycling Dumpster at Carrboro Plaza recycling site last Thursday showed a lot of recyclable No. 2 and No. 5 plastics along with a metal window screen, bottles and unidentified bags of waste. We are getting far too much waste in and around the recycling containers, and the manager of Carrboro Plaza is very concerned about this illegal dumping.
To keep the site operating, illegal dumping must cease. If not, we are faced with possible loss of the only recycling drop-off site in Carrboro. So help out the program -- recycle only No. 2 and No. 5 non-bottle plastics in the purple Dumpster, don't leave any garbage at the recycling site or in the nearby private Dumpsters and report any illegal dumping to 911.
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You may very well be getting some new neighbors in the next few weeks. Lend them a neighborly recycling hand with the following tips:
1. Cardboard must be recycled everywhere in Orange County. Put only 10 pieces, no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet, at the curb, in or under or between your recycling bins. If you have more than 10 pieces or they're larger than 3 feet by 3 feet and can't be cut down, save the surplus over until next week or bring it to a drop-off recycling site. Pizza boxes are exempt, but can be recycled if relatively grease-free and cheese-free.
2. If the newbies don't have recycling bins at their single-family dwelling, they can get free ones from Orange County or if they live in Carrboro or Hillsborough, from the Town Public Works Departments. Call 968-2788 or see www.co.orange.nc.us/recycling
3. If you live in an apartment, show your new neighbors where the recycling carts are.
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While many know about dropping off their plastic grocery bags for recycling -- and we also see more and more people using reusable bags -- you should also know about the opportunity to recycle all kinds of No. 2 and No. 4 plastic bags and wraps where you see plastic bag recycling bins at grocery stores and some dry cleaners.
For example, toilet paper wrap, dry cleaning bags, and case wrap are compatible for recycling with bags. Any thin, flexible plastic with a No. 2 or No. 4 is recyclable at participating stores. Just make sure the material is clean and dry and that it stretches (no loud crinkly wrap). For more on what you can recycle with grocery bags go to www.plasticbagrecycling.org.
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Along with consumers, more and more small businesses are recycling a wider variety of plastic. Many products now ship in film plastic because it's an efficient (lightweight) protective package. Retailers generate significant volumes of film when receiving products such as toys, clothing, or electronics.
To take advantage of this supply of raw materials, last year, Orange County instituted a business-to-business film and bag recovery program at University Mall and Chapel Hill North, encouraging businesses at those centers to bring their bags and film to the Harris Teeter grocery store at each mall.
Now, the program at the mall is being revitalized with the help of mall management, local plastic recycling consultants Moore Recycling, American Chemistry Council and Harris-Teeter. Soon the business-to-business program will expand to Carr Mill Mall and Meadowmont, the two other Orange County shopping centers anchored by Harris Teeter, which is very willing to accept more clean bags and film to turn into new durable decking and plastic lumber products.
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Congratulations to the award-winning recycling program at UNC, which hit a reported 45 percent recycling rate for FY 09-10. That was its best recycling-to-landfilling ratio in 21 years of operation. Overall it reported that trash was down 6 percent from the prior year to 5,146 tons and recycling was up almost 25 percent to 4,164 tons. Total discards (trash plus recycling) were up only 5 percent.
Some highlights for the year include:
- June's recycling rate was 51 percent.
- In June, it added electronics info (4 tons) from Creative Recycling (via surplus).
- Student move-in had a recycling rate of 48 percent in fall 2009.
- For student move-out 2010 it realized a cost savings of $3,500, primarily in the area of rolloff hauling and tipping fees.
See: http://fac.unc.edu/wastereduction/trend/2009-2010/OWRR0910%20June.pdf for the whole report.
Blair L. Pollock is solid waste planner with the Orange County Solid Waste Management Department.
