Alexei Volkov
Portland's recycling system is unique in that it is based on the shape of the plastic item rather than the type of plastic. This means that plastic bottles, jars, jugs, and tubs with a cylindrical base of at least 6 oz in volume are accepted for recycling in the region. Other plastic items that are not accepted for recycling in Portland may be chemically unable to be recycled or not economically feasible to do so. Once collected, these plastics are sorted at facilities like Hillsboro's Far West Recycling, where they are processed and sold to manufacturers to be made into new products.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic recycling system based on | Size and shape of the item |
| Plastic items that can be recycled | Plastic bottles, tubs, jugs, jars, buckets, nursery pots |
| Plastic items that cannot be recycled | Plastic bags, containers smaller than 6 oz, blister packaging, plastic wrap, bubble wrap, bags |
| Plastic items that can be recycled at specific centers | Plastic bags, containers with hazardous materials such as motor oil, pesticides, herbicides |
| Plastic items that are confusing for residents to recycle | Plastic tubs, bottle lids, paper cartons with plastic components |
| Plastic recycling process | Sorting, repurposing, bundling by type, creating new products |
| Plastic recycling centers | Far West Recycling, Cedar Hills New Seasons |
| Plastic recycling challenges | "Wish-cycling," complicated rules, economic and technical infeasibility, contamination |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs are recycled
In Portland, Oregon, plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs are recycled. However, there are specific guidelines to follow. For instance, plastic bottles, jugs, and jars should be 6 ounces or larger, and any container with a threaded neck or a neck narrower than the base is accepted. This includes milk jugs, peanut butter jars, and bottles that held personal care and cleaning products.
It is important to note that plastic packaging that does not conform to these shapes, such as blister packaging or plastic wrap, cannot be recycled at home. Some of these items can be dropped off at recycling businesses in the area. Plastic bags, for example, can be returned to stores or dropped off at recycling centers, as they are collected separately from other plastics.
Once recyclables are picked up from homes or workplaces, they are sorted at facilities like Hillsboro's Far West Recycling. Sorting is a meticulous process, as machines and people work together to remove non-recyclable items and sort the rest by material type. Some materials are then turned into commodities used in the Portland metro region, while others are sent out of state or overseas to be made into new products.
The recycling process in Portland can be confusing for residents, as it is based on the shape of the plastic rather than the typical recycling symbol or number. This means that certain plastic items that are recyclable in other parts of the country may not be recyclable in Portland. Despite this confusion, many Portlanders are dedicated to recycling their plastic containers properly, and their efforts do result in the repurposing of many plastic items.
How Recycling Plastics Can Save Our Oceans
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic bags are recycled separately
Plastic bags are a serious problem for recycling facilities in Portland, Oregon. They get caught in machinery, causing costly shutdowns of sorting lines to cut the bags out of the equipment. This is because plastic bags are extremely lightweight and can act like balloons, blowing out of garbage cans, trucks, and landfills. These flyaway bags litter open spaces, enter storm drains, and can eventually end up in rivers and oceans. They break down into small, toxic pieces that are consumed by wildlife and aquatic animals.
Therefore, plastic bags are not allowed in Portland's recycling bins and must be recycled separately. They should never go in your home or work mixed recycling bin. Instead, take plastic bags back to stores or drop them off at recycling centers where they are collected separately from other plastics. There are many convenient drop-off options around Portland.
In Portland, paper, cardboard, metal, and plastic bottles and tubs can all go in one bin. This makes it easier for people to recycle, which leads to higher levels of recycling. However, it also means that recyclables must be sorted after collection. Sorting is done in big warehouses where both machines and people work to remove items that aren’t recyclable and sort out the rest by material type. Some materials are turned into commodities used in the Portland metro region, while others are sent out of state or overseas to be made into new products.
When sorting your plastics, ignore the recycle symbol and number. Plastics recycling in Portland is based on the size and shape of the item. Plastic bottles, jugs, and jars 6 ounces or larger, any container with a threaded neck (for a screw-on lid) or a neck narrower than the base can be recycled. This includes milk jugs, peanut butter jars, and bottles that held personal care and cleaning products. Round plastic containers that can hold 6 ounces or more, with a wider rim than the base, and typically contain products such as salsa, margarine, cottage cheese, or hummus (no drink cups).
Recycling Kirkland's Plastic Egg Crates: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$49.99 $59.99
Plastic containers are sorted by shape
In Portland, plastic containers are sorted by shape, size, and type. Plastic bottles, jugs, and jars that are 6 ounces or larger can be recycled. This includes containers with a threaded neck for a screw-on lid or a neck narrower than the base, such as milk jugs, peanut butter jars, and bottles that held personal care and cleaning products. Containers with a cylindrical base of at least 6 ounces or more in volume will be recycled, while containers that do not conform to the accepted shapes, such as blister packaging, plastic wrap, and bags, may not be recycled curbside but can be dropped off at recycling centers.
Plastic tubs are also recyclable but must fall within a certain size range, and thin plastic tubs are not accepted. Plastic buckets 5 gallons or smaller are accepted, with handles being okay. Plastic plant pots can be recycled if they are 4 inches in diameter or larger and made of rigid plastic.
Recycling in Portland is unique in that it is based on the shape of the item, which can be confusing for residents as it differs from other regions. The sorting is done in large warehouses where machines and people work together to remove non-recyclable items and sort the rest by material type. Some materials are turned into products used in the Portland metro region, while others are sent out of state or overseas to be made into new products.
It is important to note that all plastics are recyclable in theory, but not all plastics are economically feasible to recycle or can be handled by a region's processing facilities. Therefore, the shape of the plastic item plays a crucial role in determining whether it can be recycled in Portland.
Paper, Cardboard, and Plastic: What's Recyclable?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic is processed at Material Recovery Facilities
In Portland, plastic bottles, jars, round containers, buckets, and nursery pots can be recycled at home. However, plastic recycling is based on the size and shape of the item rather than the type of plastic. For instance, plastic bottles and jars with a neck must be at least 6 ounces or larger in volume. Containers with a threaded neck for a screw-on lid or a neck narrower than the base are also accepted. This includes milk jugs, peanut butter jars, and bottles that held personal care and cleaning products. Buckets must be 5 gallons or smaller.
Plastic bags can be recycled but not at the curb. They often get caught in machinery at recycling facilities, causing costly shutdowns. Plastic bags can be returned to stores or dropped off at recycling centers, where they are collected separately from other plastics.
Some plastic materials that cannot be recycled at home can be dropped off for recycling at some recycling businesses in greater Portland. For example, plastic packaging that doesn't conform to the accepted shapes, such as blister packaging, plastic wrap, bubble wrap, and bags, or containers smaller than 6 ounces.
Once plastic items are picked up from homes or workplaces, they are sorted at Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). In Portland, Far West Recycling is one such facility, processing about 12,000 tons of material at its Northeast Portland and Hillsboro sorting facilities each month. Flattened packages of soap, sports drinks, and peanut butter are bundled by type—polyethylene terephthalate and high-density polyethylene. These plastics have end markets, but not all plastics do.
After sorting and processing at MRFs, recycled goods are purchased by someone who will make a new product out of them.
How Lego Bricks Are Recycled and Reused
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Recycled plastic is used to make new products
In Portland, Oregon, recycled plastic is used to make new products. The city's recycling system is unique in that it is based on the shape of the plastic item rather than the type of plastic it is. This means that plastic bottles, jars, jugs, tubs, and containers with a threaded neck or a neck narrower than the base are accepted for recycling. These items are collected from residents' recycling bins and taken to sorting facilities, such as Far West Recycling, where they are sorted by shape and material type.
Once sorted, the plastic items are processed and recycled into new products. For example, plastic bottles can be turned into park benches, and milk jugs are made into another product with a consistent market. Other recycled plastic items may be sent out of state or overseas to be made into new products.
While Portland's recycling system has been described as confusing and complicated, many residents are committed to doing the right thing and reducing their environmental footprint. They diligently scrub and sort their plastic containers before placing them in the recycling bin. However, it is important to note that not all plastics are economically feasible to recycle, and some may end up in landfills if they cannot be processed by the local Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs).
Overall, recycling plastic in Portland helps conserve energy and natural resources, reduce pollution, and create new products that can be used and enjoyed by the community. It is a process that involves the participation of both residents and recycling facilities, each playing their part to make a positive impact on the environment.
Effective Ways to Recycle Plastic Boxes
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Plastic bottles, jars, round containers, buckets, and nursery pots can be recycled at home. Plastic bags can be recycled but they must be taken back to stores or dropped off at recycling centers.
The plastic is sorted at Hillsboro's Far West Recycling. Some materials are turned into commodities used in the Portland metro region, and others are sent out of state or overseas to be made into new products.
Some plastics that can't be recycled at home can be dropped off at recycling businesses in greater Portland. Other plastics that are not accepted for recycling in the region are sent to landfills.
Workers at the recycling center have to fish out the wrong plastics. This is part of the job as many people in Portland are confused about what can be recycled.
