Chloe Zhang
Recycling plastic is an important way to reduce its negative influence on the planet. In Massachusetts, most towns and cities provide curbside collection or a drop-off center for recycling. However, it is important to know which types of plastic can be recycled and how to prepare them for collection. This includes separating certain types of plastic, such as plastic bags, film plastics, and rigid plastics, which must be collected separately and processed by a dedicated plastics recycler. Additionally, all plastics must be clean and free from contaminants like food or liquid to be recycled.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic bags and wraps | Should not be placed in recycling bins as they can damage sorting equipment. Can be recycled at some supermarkets, retailers, and grocery stores. |
| Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs | Can be recycled. Should be clean, empty, and dry. |
| Plastic lids | Should be reattached to containers before recycling. Loose lids should be thrown in the trash. |
| Bulky rigid plastics | Should be collected separately for recycling. |
| Polystyrene or polyethylene foam | Should not be placed in recycling bins. Can be sent directly to a plastics recycler. |
| Black plastic | Cannot be recycled at most Massachusetts MRFs as scanners cannot recognize it. |
| Plastic straws, miniature bottles, utensils, and lids | Cannot be recycled as they are too small for MRF equipment. |
| Plastic films | Should not be included in single-stream recycling but can be recycled. |
| Plastic items accepted at Weston's Transfer Station | Rigid plastic #1 - #7 (lids, caps, and rings), no sorting required. |
| Plastic items accepted at Amherst's Transfer Station | Plastic paint cans |
| Plastic items accepted at Boston's curbside collection | Plastic drink bottles, milk jugs, yogurt cups, tubs, and shampoo bottles |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic bags and films can be recycled separately
In Massachusetts, every town and city with curbside collection or a drop-off center accepts hard plastics for recycling. However, plastic bags and films should not be included in single-stream recycling. Plastic bags can jam up the processing equipment and are a safety hazard for workers.
Plastic bags and films, like shrink wrap, are usually categorized as plastic code #4, or LDPE (Low-density polyethylene). This kind of plastic is used to manufacture grocery bags and some flexible lids and bottles. Although plastic bags and films should not be included in single-stream recycling, this material does have a market and can be recycled separately. Many major food markets, such as Lowe's, Staples, Target, and Walmart, accept clean, dry plastic bags and films labeled Number 2 or Number 4, LDPE, PE-LD, or LLDPE for recycling into plastic lumber-type products.
If no locations near you accept plastic bags, foam, or wraps for recycling, you may throw them in the trash. However, consider visiting the Wrap Recycling Action Council website to find a nearby drop-off location. Many shipping companies, such as FedEx and UPS, also accept loose fill foam "packing peanuts" for reuse.
To recycle smart, it is important to ensure that all plastics collected for recycling are free from contaminants such as food, liquid, or other non-recyclable materials. Plastic and metal caps and lids should be reattached to empty containers before recycling.
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Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs can be recycled
It is also important to determine the type of plastic you are recycling. Most bottles and jugs are made from #1 plastic (PET) or #2 plastic (HDPE), which are widely accepted by curbside recycling programs. However, some bottles are made from #3-#7 plastics and may not be collected by your local program. The resin ID code on the bottle can help you identify the type of plastic. Additionally, some plastics are coded with numbers ranging from 1 to 7, indicating the basic resin type, but this does not always mean the item is recyclable at your local Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
When recycling plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs, it is recommended to keep the plastic lids attached. Loose lids can be too small for the sorting equipment and may fall through the cracks. However, if the lid is made of a different material, such as metal, and cannot be securely reattached, it should be thrown in the trash.
In Massachusetts, you can recycle plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs through curbside collection or by taking them to a drop-off centre. Each town and city in Massachusetts provides these services, and you can use the MassDEP Beyond the Bin Recycling Directory to find nearby drop-off locations. Additionally, many retailers accept plastic bags and wraps for recycling at no cost.
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Plastic lids and caps should be reattached to containers
If you are unable to reattach the lid or cap, it should be placed in the trash. Metal bottle caps, for example, should be thrown away because they cannot be reattached securely. However, metal can lids can be recycled by leaving a bit of the lid attached and bending it into the can, or by placing it in the can and pinching the bottom.
It is important to note that the containers do not need to be spotless, but they should be empty and free of liquid and most food residue. A quick wipe or rinse is sufficient to ensure that food and liquids do not contaminate other recyclables, attract pests, or create unpleasant conditions for recycling workers.
In Massachusetts, most clean plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs can be recycled through a single-stream or dual-stream recycling program. However, it is always a good idea to check with your local recycling program to verify which materials are accepted and to understand any specific preparation requirements.
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Rigid plastics must be collected separately
Recycling is an important way to enhance the environment, boost the economy, and save your community money. In Massachusetts, every town and city with curbside collection or a drop-off center accepts certain items for recycling. However, it is important to know which materials belong in your bin and how to properly recycle them.
When it comes to rigid plastics, they must be collected separately from other recyclables. This includes items like plastic buckets, crates, totes, trays, and Tupperware. These items are considered bulky and are not suitable for automated sorting using optical sorters. Instead, they are manually pulled out of the waste stream during a presort to be baled later. This process ensures that the rigid plastics are properly recycled and do not contaminate other recyclables.
Additionally, some plastics, such as plastic bags, cling wrap, rubber gloves, and agricultural film, should not be placed in mixed recycling. These thin, flexible plastics can tangle with the rotating sorting equipment at single-stream Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs), causing damage and even worker injuries. However, many of these plastic film materials can be collected separately for recycling.
To properly recycle rigid plastics in Massachusetts, you can check with your local community's recycling or solid waste coordinator or department to find out the specific guidelines and drop-off locations. It is important to follow the rules in your community to ensure that your recyclables are handled and processed correctly. Remember, recycling smart makes a big difference!
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Plastic shopping bags cannot be placed in recycling bins
In Massachusetts, all plastics collected for recycling must be free from contaminants such as food, liquid, or other non-recyclable materials. Plastic shopping bags cannot be placed in recycling bins because they can damage recycling equipment and cause worker injuries. They can get tangled in the rotating sorting equipment at Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs), causing operational problems, facility shutdowns, and safety hazards for employees. Plastic bags are the number one form of contamination in the recycling stream.
Instead of placing plastic bags in recycling bins, they should be recycled at local retailer take-back programs or dropped off at collection facilities. Many supermarkets and retailers accept plastic bags and wraps for recycling at no cost. Some shipping companies also accept loose fill foam "packing peanuts" for reuse. If no locations near you accept plastic bags for recycling, they should be placed in the trash.
To recycle hard plastic items in Massachusetts, check the MassDEP Beyond the Bin Recycling Directory for nearby drop-off locations. You can also refer to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Recycle Smart MA search tool to determine whether a specific material can be accepted and processed by most single-stream MRFs in the state. Every Massachusetts town and city with curbside collection or a drop-off center accept certain items for recycling, with the same restrictions.
Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs can be recycled, but they must be clean and free from contaminants. Plastic lids should be reattached to empty containers before recycling. Lids that are not attached are too small for sorting equipment and will fall through the cracks.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic bottle caps should be reattached to their corresponding bottles before recycling. This is to prevent them from falling through the cracks in the sorting equipment.
Most clean plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs can be recycled. However, plastic bags, plastic films, and polystyrene foam cannot be recycled in your bin as they can damage sorting equipment. These items can often be recycled separately.
Plastic bags can be recycled at many local grocery and retail stores.
Plastic items that are two inches or smaller in diameter cannot be recycled as they will fall through the cracks at a sorting facility. Plastic straws, miniature bottles, utensils, and lids are also not recyclable for the same reason.
Hard plastics, such as buckets and crates, are often too big to be handled by Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs). However, they can often be collected separately for recycling. Check with your local waste management for more information.
