Pembroke's curbside recycling program does not accept thin, flexible plastics. This includes items like plastic bags, bubble wrap, plastic mailers, and case wrap (paper towels, toilet paper). A Trash Talk reader named Marianne asked whether to remove plastic labels from soda bottles before recycling. This is an excellent question.
In the early days of curbside recycling, residents had to remove paper labels from aluminum cans, plastic labels from bottles, and packing tape from cardboard boxes, and glossy paper (magazines) was not allowed. Residents had to separate items by material; newspapers and cardboard had to be bound. Over the last 40 years, recycling facilities have made extraordinary advances.
Though thin plastics are still not allowed in curbside recycling, the materials recovery facilities (MRFs) have improved their sorting abilities. Some old rules no longer apply; residents no longer need to remove labels glued to bottles, jars, and cans before recycling. Standard labels do not cause problems during processing, unlike loose plastic bags. There is no need to remove a label before recycling an item unless the label specifically instructs users to do so. Always empty and rinse all bottles and jars, then replace the cap before adding them to the bin.
You can drop off all of the following thin plastic items at local grocery and retail stores for recycling. They do not belong in your curbside bin.
- Trash bags
- Grocery and retail bags
- Produce and bread bags
- Bubble wrap and air pillows
- Case/shrink wrap (toilet paper, paper towels)
- Plastic mailers
- Dry cleaning bags
- Resealable bags
- Cereal box liners and cracker sleeves
- The following items are not recyclable and should be disposed of with trash:
- Multi-layered plastics such as foil pouches and metallic chip bags
- Candy wrappers and bags
- Prewashed salad bags
- Pet food bags
- Heavily soiled bags
- Cellophane
Remember: Thin plastic bags and film do not belong in your curbside recycling because they clog machinery at the MRF and can't be recycled there, but you can drop them off at local retailers for recycling. Recycled plastic bags and film can be restored to greater glory!
If you are interested in having a recycling or waste question answered in a future Trash Talk article, please email Nicole Lydic at Nicole.lydic@pembrokecitizenjournal.com
