Greenwich's Plastic Pollution: A Comprehensive Overview

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has implemented several initiatives to reduce plastic waste and promote recycling. While plastic bags, wraps, and films are no longer accepted in the town's recycling program, special recycling programs like TREX and WRAP exist to convert these plastics into decking and other products. The town also launched a municipal food scrap recycling program in June 2020, diverting over 400,000 lbs of food scraps from the waste stream. Additionally, small electrical items and larger waste are collected and sent to facilities for recycling. However, the presence of grassroots groups advocating for a ban on plastic bags and the existence of plastic fabrication services in the area indicate that plastic remains a significant concern in Greenwich.

Plastic bags are no longer accepted in recycling bins

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has a robust waste management system in place, with separate bins for food and garden waste, general waste, and mixed dry recycling. While the borough encourages recycling, there are certain items that are not accepted in the recycling bins, one of which is plastic bags.

Plastic bags are no longer accepted in the recycling bins in Greenwich. This includes plastic bags, wraps, and films. Plastic bags cannot be placed in the blue bins provided for mixed dry recycling. This is because plastic bags can cause entanglement in the recycling equipment during the sorting process, leading to costly delays and even endangering workers. Plastic does not biodegrade and can contaminate the final recycled product, rendering it useless.

However, it is important to note that plastic bags can be recycled through special programs like TREX and WRAP. These programs accept various types of plastic bags, such as grocery bags, retail bags, bread bags, and food storage bags. Additionally, select grocery and retail stores, such as ShopRite, Shop-N-Stop, and Home Depot, also accept plastic bags for recycling.

The Town of Greenwich encourages residents to reduce their use of single-use plastics and protect the environment. Instead of using plastic bags, residents are advised to use reusable bags or compostable bags for their shopping and waste disposal needs. By reducing the use of plastic bags, residents can help minimize the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills or the environment.

In addition to plastic bags, there are other items that are not accepted in the recycling bins in Greenwich. These include shredded paper, styrofoam, and certain types of plastic foam marked with resin code #6. It is important for residents to properly dispose of these items through alternative means, such as special collection bins or recycling programs, to ensure the safety of workers and the effectiveness of the recycling process.

Plastic bags are banned in some stores

Plastic bags are a major source of pollution, and their use has been banned in some stores in Greenwich, Connecticut. The town passed a ban on plastic bags in March 2018, which came into effect on September 12, 2018. The ban prohibits businesses from providing customers with single-use plastic bags at checkout. This includes all types of businesses, such as grocery, retail, hardware, and garden shops.

The decision to ban plastic bags in Greenwich was driven by environmental concerns. Plastic bags are known to cause significant harm to the environment, as they do not biodegrade and can contaminate compost and recycling processes. They can also endanger workers and cause costly delays during the sorting process. The ban faced some opposition from businesses and groups like Femmes For Fiscal Freedom, who argued that it would place a burden on merchants and customers. However, the majority of residents and local merchants supported the ban, recognizing the negative impact of plastic bags on the local ecosystem.

To address the concerns of businesses and customers, the ban does not include a fee for paper bags, and customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags for shopping. The town also offers "food scrap recycling starter kits" to make composting easier for residents. These kits include a countertop pail, a home storage and transportation bin, compostable bags, and a guide. The kits are available for purchase at various locations in Greenwich, including community churches and the Greenwich Green & Clean office.

The plastic bag ban in Greenwich is part of a larger movement to reduce plastic pollution and promote environmental sustainability. Similar bans have been implemented in nearby towns like Westport and Rye, and other places like New York are considering statewide bans. The success of these initiatives highlights a growing awareness of the negative impact of plastic bags on the environment and a willingness to adopt more sustainable alternatives.

Plastic bags can be recycled through special programs

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has implemented several initiatives to reduce plastic waste and promote recycling. While plastic bags are no longer accepted in the town's recycling program, there are special recycling programs dedicated to this purpose.

Plastic bags, wraps, and films are not accepted in the blue bins provided by the town due to the risk of entanglement in the recycling equipment, causing costly delays and posing a danger to workers. However, residents of Greenwich can still recycle these items through specific programs such as TREX and WRAP. These programs accept a variety of plastic bags, including grocery, retail, newspaper, bread, produce, and food storage bags. The collected plastics are then converted into decking and other products, such as park benches.

In addition to these special programs, select grocery and retail stores in Greenwich also participate in plastic bag recycling. These stores include ShopRite, Shop-N-Stop, Acme, Home Depot, and Kings. National grocery retailers like Kroger, Safeway, Target, and Walmart also offer bag recycling collections in their stores. It is important to note that only certain clean and dry plastic bags are accepted, and it is recommended to check with the store or recycling center beforehand.

The town also has a municipal food scrap recycling program, which has successfully diverted over 400,000 lbs of food scraps from the waste stream. Food scraps are collected and transported to an industrial composting facility, where they are turned into compost, enriching the soil. This program encourages residents to separate food waste from trash, leading to increased awareness and a reduction in food waste.

Furthermore, the borough sends all collected recyclables to local material recovery facilities (MRFs) for sorting and further processing within Europe. Plastics collected through this process are recycled into new products such as plastic bottles, fleeces, or garden furniture. Overall, these initiatives demonstrate Greenwich's commitment to reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable practices through special recycling programs.

Plastic food scrap recycling programs

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has implemented several initiatives to reduce plastic waste and promote recycling. While plastic bags, wraps, and films are no longer accepted in the town's recycling bins, special programs like TREX and WRAP exist to recycle these materials into products like decking. The borough also encourages residents to avoid using styrofoam due to its negative environmental and health impacts, and instead, opt for reusable alternatives.

In June 2020, the Town of Greenwich, in collaboration with Waste Free Greenwich, the Greenwich Recycling Advisory Board, and Greenwich Green & Clean, introduced a municipal food scrap recycling program. This voluntary and free program allows residents to separate their food waste from trash, reducing the amount of garbage collected and potential waste management expenses. The food scraps are collected and transported to an industrial composting facility, where they are turned into compost, enriching the soil.

The food scrap recycling program offers "starter kits" to facilitate the process, which include a countertop pail, a home storage and transportation bin, compostable bags, and a guide. These kits are available for purchase at various locations, including community churches and the Greenwich Green & Clean office. The program has been successful, with residents diverting over 400,000 lbs of food scraps from the waste stream, preventing the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.

Additionally, Greenwich has a robust system for managing other types of waste. Small electrical items are collected from pink containers at recycling sites, while larger items are taken to the SWEEEP facility in Kent for proper recycling. Textiles are processed and sorted, with reusable clothes and shoes being sent abroad to provide clothing to those in need. The borough also emphasizes the environmental benefits of recycling batteries and encourages residents to do so through the proper channels.

For those with truckload quantities of plastic scrap, companies like Scrap Management Inc. offer recycling services. They purchase plastic scrap for recycling in most US states and ensure ethical and safe processing. The accepted plastics include beverage bottles, food containers, packaging for various products, and more.

Plastic fabrication services in Greenwich

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has a robust system for managing plastic waste. While plastic bags, wraps, and films are no longer accepted in the town's recycling bins due to processing challenges and contamination risks, special recycling programs like TREX and WRAP exist to recycle these materials into products like decking. Additionally, select grocery and retail stores, such as ShopRite, Shop-N-Stop, Acme, Home Depot, and Kings, accept plastic bags, wraps, and films for recycling.

In terms of plastic fabrication services in Greenwich, ePlastics®, a Ridout Plastics Company, is a prominent provider. With a history dating back to 1914, ePlastics® offers a comprehensive range of plastic material fabrication services. They cater to diverse needs, guaranteeing the best prices for their plastic supplies. Their website encourages prospective customers to get in touch to explore what they can offer.

J.G. Finneran Associates is another company based in Greenwich, NJ, that specializes in plastics. They offer a range of products, including chromatography vials, closures, inserts, racks, and convenience packs. Their website provides additional information on their offerings.

While the above-mentioned companies are specifically highlighted for their plastic fabrication services and products, a simple online search for "plastics plastic products in Greenwich, NJ" yields a plethora of results. These results encompass a wide range of businesses involved in various aspects of plastic fabrication, finishing, decorating, lamination, manufacturing, and more.

It is worth noting that the search results for plastic fabrication services in Greenwich primarily pertain to Greenwich, NJ, as this seemed to be the most relevant match. However, there is also a reference to the Royal Borough of Greenwich, which may be located in Connecticut, based on the mention of the CT DEEP in one of the sources.

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