Recycling tips: Blue bin and beyond

BY JULIE DREIKE FOR THE JOURNAL

There are things that should not go into the blue recycling bin: No plastic bags.

No clothing

No trash Containers with the recycling triangle on them need to be as clean as using a spatula in a peanut butter container. You don’t need to wash them to the standard of your clean dishes.

See the Recycling Coach for more information: https://www.cabq.gov/ solidwaste/recycling/recycle-coach Glass can be taken to recycling drop-off sites. https://www. cabq.gov/solidwaste/recycling/ recycling-dropoff

WHAT ABOUT RECYCLING OTHER PRODUCTS THAT YOUR CURBSIDE RECYCLING DOES NOT TAKE?

Do not confuse the information below with the blue bin. If you put items in the blue bin that are not part of the curbside recycling, you could hurt the process by causing a delay or damage on the line, put workers at risk, or negatively impact the items that are appropriate to the blue bin.

The recycling information below requires more effort on your part and will result in fewer items going to the landfill.

RECYCLE YOUR PLASTIC BAGS, FILM AND WRAP AT PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS

Recycle only clean, dry plastic bags and film. Remove receipts or any other items from the bags.

HOW DO I IDENTIFY THE PLASTIC THAT CAN GO TO A PARTICIPATING LOCATION?

The plastic will stretch when you pull it with both hands or push with your thumb. If it does not stretch or tears like paper, throw it away.

Examples: Retail, carryout, produce, newspaper, bread and dry-cleaning bags. Empty, clean, and dry Zip-top food storage bags. Clean and dry Plastic shipping envelopes. Remove the labels with a scissors, small amounts of bubble wrap, air pillows

Plastic wrap on cases of water/soda bottles, paper towels, napkins, bathroom tissue and other multi-packaged products Plastic cereal box liners. If it tears like paper, do not recycle, throw it out.

Do not include: Degradable/compostable bags or film packaging Pre-washed salad mix bags

Frozen food bags

Candy bar wrappers, chip bags

Rings around six-packs

Stiff packaging such as those that linens come in.

Multi-material and non-polyethylene items, including pet food bags, cheese wrappers, and polypropylene (#5) film and bags, are not compatible with this collection and should not be included. Currently, there are no widespread options to recycle these items.

There is a lot of good information on this website if you are serious about additional recycling. https://bagandfilmrecycling. org/view/fdod

HOW ABOUT CLOTHING, FABRIC, LINENS, AND SHOES THAT ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR DONATIONS? While most textiles are recyclable, the Council for Textile Recycling found 85% still ends up in landfills and only 15% are recycled each year. It also found that the average American throws out 70 pounds of fabric per year, and the amount of textile waste is increasing.

For those stained, torn or otherwise unwearable textiles, clothing recycling is the answer. Find a drop-off spot near you using: https://earth911. com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle- clothing-accessories/#recycling- locator Using the link on the site for finding a location, you can enter your ZIP code. Then using the drop-down box, find locations for: Clothing

Eyeglasses

Fabric

Linens

Shoes This is another good website to find information on textile recycling. https://brightly.eco/blog/textile-recycling. This site has no New Mexico drop-off sites listed but does provide links for sending textiles to locations.

I also found a website for recycling by subscribing to their service. https://www.retoldrecycling.com/ pages/about-us FOAM RECYCLING PROGRAM: I found one location in NM for drop off. All Star Foam, 3417 Girard NE. 505-243-2271

INTERESTED IN HOW RECYCLING IS DONE? Call Albuquerque Solid Waste to find out how to schedule a tour for your group or if you can join a group tour — 505-761-8350. You can see firsthand how the operations work and how much recycling is done in the community.

HOW MUCH RECYCLING IS NEW MEXICO DOING? The N.M. Environment Department has information on recycling and diversion rates. https://www.env.nm.gov/solid-waste/ recycling-composting-and-diversion/ The information last posted on the site is 2015. The website contains documents by county for recycling and diversion rates.

DOES RECYCLING MAKE SENSE?

Multiple articles can be found on recycling being a benefit.

Reduces greenhouse gases.

Save resources by reusing materials rather than new production.

Saves energy by using recycled material than by making new materials.

Less waste to landfills. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Recycling Economic Information Report: The 2020 REI Report includes updated information about the number of recycling jobs, wages, and tax revenue. The report shows that recycling and reuse of materials creates jobs, while also generating local and state tax revenues. In 2012, recycling and reuse activities in the United States accounted for: 681,000 jobs

$37.8 billion in wages; and

$5.5 billion in tax revenues https://www.epa.gov/smm/recycling- economic-information-rei-report