Maya Ellison
Tacoma's recycling program has been facing challenges due to contamination and changing policies by other countries regarding acceptable recyclables. To address these issues, Tacoma implemented changes in 2017 to reduce the use of single-use plastics and reset its recycling program. As a result, residents may notice a reduction in the number of items that can be recycled and the introduction of new surcharges. While the city works to salvage its recycling program, it is crucial for residents to educate themselves on waste reduction and properly separate their recyclables to prevent contamination. This includes separating glass from paper products, plastic, and aluminum, as well as properly disposing of plastic lids and bags to avoid disrupting recycling equipment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic bags | Recyclable, but need to be combined into one plastic bag and tied closed |
| Plastic tubs | Recyclable, but flat lids should be thrown out |
| Paper products | Recyclable |
| Glass | Separate from paper products, plastic, and aluminum |
| Curbside recycling | Some materials not accepted can be taken to the Recovery and Transfer Center Recycle Center at 3510 S. Mullen St. |
| Fees | Implemented in 2019 |
| Changes | Fewer items can be recycled |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic tubs like yoghurt containers are recyclable, but their flat lids are not
- Plastic bags are recyclable but must be placed inside another plastic bag and tied closed
- Plastic utensils are banned in Tacoma
- Plastic bags and utensils are still too much for US facilities to process
- Plastic contamination includes items that are soiled, painted, or coated
Plastic tubs like yoghurt containers are recyclable, but their flat lids are not
Plastic tubs like yoghurt containers are accepted for recycling in Tacoma, but their flat lids are not. This is because, despite often being made of the same plastic material, the lids are flat and will be sorted into the paper stream by shape and weight, contaminating the mixed paper materials.
Tacoma's recycling program has been in crisis in recent years, with China's decision to stop accepting US recycling due to high levels of contamination causing significant issues. This has led to increased scrutiny of what goes into the recycling bin, with residents being advised to throw something out if they are unsure whether it can be recycled.
The city's recycling program has also faced challenges due to the sheer volume of single-use plastics, with US facilities struggling to keep up with the amount of plastic waste being generated. In response, Tacoma implemented a ban on single-use plastics in the summer of 2017, ahead of a similar ban announced by Canada in 2019.
To address the issue of contamination, Tacoma has introduced a surcharge and plans to provide residents with broader education in waste reduction. The city's website offers specific instructions on what can be recycled and how. For example, plastic bags are accepted for recycling but must be combined into a single plastic bag and tied closed to prevent loose bags from damaging recycling equipment.
Overall, while plastic tubs like yoghurt containers can be recycled in Tacoma, it is important for residents to properly dispose of the flat lids and stay informed about the evolving guidelines to help improve the city's recycling program.
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Plastic bags are recyclable but must be placed inside another plastic bag and tied closed
Plastic bags are recyclable in Tacoma, but they must be placed inside another plastic bag and tied closed. This is because loose plastic bags can cause havoc with the recycling equipment. It is critical to review what can be placed in your commingled recycling bin, as it can vary from municipality to municipality. For example, in Tacoma, glass is separate from paper products, plastic, and aluminum.
The contamination rate of recycling must be incredibly low for other countries to accept it. If there is any doubt about whether something can be recycled, it is better to throw it out. For example, plastic tubs like yogurt containers are recyclable, but the flat lids should be thrown in the garbage, even if they are made of the same plastic material. This is because they are flat and will be sorted into the paper stream by shape and weight, which is considered cross-contamination of mixed paper materials.
Some materials that are not accepted in the curbside recycling bin can be taken to the Recovery and Transfer Center Recycle Center at 3510 S. Mullen St. A broader range of recycled materials can be taken there because they are sorted by the customer, reducing cross-contamination. Improving the quality of recycled materials will not completely solve the problem, but it will help to ensure that the collected materials are marketable.
Tacoma implemented changes to its recycling program in the summer of 2017, ahead of Greenpeace's report that US grocery retailers were not winning the battle against single-use plastics. These changes included a ban on single-use plastics and a new surcharge for customers, with a broader education in waste reduction.
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Plastic utensils are banned in Tacoma
Plastic utensils are indeed banned in Tacoma, Washington, as part of the state's plastic serviceware law, which came into effect on January 1, 2022. The law restricts single-use plastic utensils, straws, cold-drink lids, and small sauce containers from being offered automatically to customers in food service businesses. This means that while customers can still request these items, businesses are only allowed to provide them individually, upon request.
The new law is an extension of Washington's plastic bag ban, which was implemented in October 2021 and included a mandatory fee of at least $0.08 for any bag, including paper or heavy-duty plastic. The serviceware law aims to reduce the use of single-use plastics and encourage people to bring their own reusable alternatives.
Tacoma's decision to ban plastic utensils is part of a growing trend among cities in the United States to address the environmental impact of plastic waste. Plastic pollution has severe consequences for the environment, particularly marine life, as it can take thousands of years for plastic bags to biodegrade, breaking down into smaller pieces that release toxic chemicals and pose a threat to animals.
While Tacoma has taken a step in the right direction by banning plastic utensils, some critics argue that the city could do more. For example, Seattle, another city in Washington, went a step further by banning plastic straws and utensils entirely in 2018, with paper or compostable alternatives being permitted. Despite some resistance, Tacoma's leadership seems open to the idea of eventually banning plastic straws as well, but they want to proceed cautiously and collect public input before making any decisions.
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Plastic bags and utensils are still too much for US facilities to process
In Tacoma, plastic bags are recyclable, but they need to be combined into one plastic bag and tied closed. However, plastic bags and utensils are still too much for US facilities to process. The recycling process is not well-tracked, and it is challenging to determine the subsequent forms of recycled plastic film. Single-use plastics, such as bags, bottles, wrappers, and straws, have a significant environmental impact. They are often disposed of immediately after use, ending up in landfills and oceans, where they harm wildlife and contaminate the environment as microplastics.
The plastic used in bags and containers contains chemical additives linked to adverse health effects, including cancer and immune system suppression. These plastics can take up to 1,000 years to degrade in a landfill, and even then, they only photodegrade into microplastics that continue to pollute. The high contamination rate in US recycling streams has led other countries, like China, to stop accepting US recycling. This highlights the urgency of reducing plastic consumption and improving recycling practices.
Recycling single-use plastics is challenging due to their small size, as they often fall into crevices in recycling machinery. Many recycling centers do not accept these items, and even when they do, cross-contamination can occur, rendering the recycled materials unusable. Plastic bags, in particular, can wreak havoc on recycling equipment if they are loose. Therefore, it is crucial to bundle plastic bags together and tie them closed before recycling.
To address the issue of plastic bags and utensils overwhelming US facilities, it is essential to prioritize waste prevention and reuse. Consumers can play a significant role by reducing their plastic consumption, reusing bags and containers, and supporting policies that phase out single-use plastics and hold industries accountable for their waste. Additionally, proper disposal of plastic waste, such as combining plastic bags before recycling, can help alleviate the burden on processing facilities.
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Plastic contamination includes items that are soiled, painted, or coated
Plastic contamination refers to plastic items that are soiled, painted, or coated. In Tacoma, it is critical to review what can be included in the commingled recycling bin, as contamination rates must be incredibly low for other countries to accept the recycling. Plastic contamination can include soiled, painted, or coated items that, if not properly recycled, can cause cross-contamination and impact the marketability of recycled materials.
Soiled plastics refer to items contaminated with dirt, food, or other substances. For example, food-soiled paper napkins and tissues are typically not accepted in the curbside organics bin and should be disposed of in the garbage. In Tacoma, plastic tubs like yogurt containers are recyclable, but the flat lids, despite being made of the same plastic material, should be thrown out to prevent them from being sorted into the paper stream, causing cross-contamination.
Painted plastics refer to items with paint coatings. While latex paint is not accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility in Tacoma, other types of paint may be considered hazardous materials and should be properly disposed of or recycled separately from plastics.
Coated plastics refer to items with a plastic coating or lamination, such as paper or cardboard with a shiny surface. Plastic-coated paper includes coffee cups, drink cups, paper plates, dairy cartons, and paper to-go containers. These items are often not accepted in recycling programs and should be kept out of organic or green bins to avoid contamination.
It is important to note that recycling guidelines can vary between municipalities, and Tacoma separates glass from paper products, plastic, and aluminum. To properly recycle plastic items that are soiled, painted, or coated, it is recommended to check with local guidelines and facilities, as some private plastic recyclers may accept these items for recycling, sometimes at a cost.
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