Maya Ellison
The Mobius Symbol with a number inside (1 through 7) is the most commonly used symbol for Plastic Resin Identification Codes. However, the recycling symbols and rules vary from municipality to municipality. Tacoma, for example, has specific rules for recycling. Due to high levels of contamination in the recycling stream, Tacoma has had to implement changes to its recycling program, which now includes fees and restrictions on what can be recycled.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic bottles | Soda, water, juice, shampoo |
| Tubs | Yogurt, margarine, sour cream, cottage cheese |
| Plastic bags | Grocery, department store, dry cleaning |
| Metal | Aluminum foil and trays, aluminum and tin cans, empty aerosol cans |
| Glass | Glass containers |
| Batteries | Household batteries (rechargeable, alkaline) |
| Hazardous materials | Household cleaners, garden chemicals, light bulbs |
| Plastic utensils | Banned |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic bottles, e.g. soda, water, juice, shampoo
Plastic bottles, including those that previously contained soda, water, juice, and shampoo, can be recycled in Tacoma. Screw-on caps can stay on the bottles. It is recommended that you give the bottles a quick rinse before recycling them.
Plastic tubs, such as those that contained yogurt, margarine, sour cream, or cottage cheese, can also be recycled. However, you should remove the flat lids and throw them in the garbage, even if they are made of the same plastic material as the tubs. This is because they are flat and will get sorted into the paper stream by shape and weight, which is considered cross-contamination of the mixed paper materials.
Plastic bags are also accepted for recycling, but they need to be combined into a single bag and tied closed. This includes grocery, department store, and dry cleaning bags.
Other acceptable plastics include containers, wrap and film, clamshell-style containers, snap-on lids, and clothing hangers.
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Plastic tubs, e.g. yoghurt, margarine, sour cream
Plastic tubs, including yogurt containers, are recyclable in Tacoma. However, it is important to note that the flat lids on these containers should be removed and disposed of separately, even if they are made of the same plastic material. This is because the lids are flat and will be sorted into the paper stream by shape and weight, leading to cross-contamination of mixed paper materials.
These plastic tubs are often made of polypropylene, a type of plastic that is technically recyclable. However, industry data suggests that only about 60% of Americans have access to any recycling program that accepts this material, and the actual rate of polypropylene recycling is much lower than what is indicated on labels. This is partly due to the fact that polypropylene is often filled with toxic chemical additives or contaminated with food waste, making it difficult to recycle.
In Tacoma, it is recommended to separate glass from paper products, plastic, and aluminum to maintain a low contamination rate in the recycling stream. If there is any doubt about whether an item can be recycled, it is better to dispose of it in the garbage to avoid contamination.
It is worth noting that plastic bags are also recyclable in Tacoma, but they need to be combined into one bag and tied closed to prevent loose bags from tangling in the recycling equipment. Additionally, some facilities accept other types of plastic, such as containers, wrap, film, clamshell-style containers, and lids, but it is always good to check with your local recycling guidelines or contact your waste management company for specific instructions.
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Plastic bags, e.g. grocery, department store, dry cleaning
Plastic bags, such as those used for groceries, at department stores, or for dry cleaning, can be recycled in Tacoma. However, they need to be handled in a specific way. First, gather all your plastic bags and put them into one single bag. Then, tie this bag closed. This is because loose bags can get tangled in recycling equipment.
It is important to note that the contamination rate of recycling must be incredibly low for other countries to accept US recycling. Therefore, if there is any doubt about whether something can be recycled, it is better to throw it out. For example, plastic tubs such as yoghurt containers are recyclable, but the flat lids should be thrown in the garbage, even if they are made of the same plastic. This is because they are flat and will be sorted into the paper stream by shape and weight, which is considered cross-contamination.
Plastic bottles for soda, water, juice, and shampoo can be recycled, and screw-on caps can stay on. Other tubs, such as those for margarine, sour cream, and cottage cheese, can also be recycled, but the flat lids should be removed. Metal items that can be recycled include aluminium foil and trays, aluminium and tin cans, and empty aerosol cans. If there is still product left in an aerosol can, it could be considered hazardous waste and should be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at the Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center.
Glass containers should be rinsed and placed in the small blue bin. Household batteries, such as rechargeable and alkaline batteries, should be sealed inside a plastic bag and placed in the glass bin. Hazardous materials, which could include household cleaners, garden chemicals, and light bulbs, should be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at the Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center.
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Metal, e.g. aluminium foil, aluminium and tin cans
Metal is one of the least impactful materials to recycle, as it takes 90% less energy to recycle a metal can than to make a new one. In Tacoma, metal items that can be recycled include aluminium foil and trays, aluminium and tin cans, and empty aerosol cans. If there is still product left in the aerosol can, it could be considered hazardous waste and should be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at the Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center.
Aluminium cans are the most easily recyclable and marketable material, followed by tin cans. Metal is usually indicated by the Mobius symbol (the three arrows in a circle) with an aluminium can in the middle. This symbol represents metal or steel, which are both generally recyclable. Stainless steel water bottles and aluminium are usually recyclable with or without this symbol.
It is always best to check with your local recycling facility. For example, in Tacoma, glass is separate from paper products, plastic, and aluminium. If there is any doubt about whether something can be recycled, it is better to throw it out.
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. This is because a broader range of recycled materials can be taken there since they are sorted by the customer, reducing cross-contamination.
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Glass, e.g. glass containers
Glass recycling in Tacoma can be a complex process. While glass is technically recyclable, there are a number of factors that can make it difficult for residents to recycle their glass effectively. Firstly, it is important to separate glass from other recyclables, such as paper products, plastic, and aluminium. This is because Tacoma's recycling stream must have a very low contamination rate for it to be accepted by other countries.
Glass containers should be rinsed and placed in a small blue bin designated for glass recycling. It is worth noting that some users have reported that glass placed in these recycling bins ends up in landfills anyway. This may be due to the challenge of recycling glass, which is not a uniform size and therefore more difficult to process than other materials.
Due to the complexities of glass recycling in Tacoma, some residents have expressed frustration with the process. There have been reports of glass being dumped and crushed along with other garbage, rather than being properly recycled. As a result, some residents have chosen to take their glass to recycling centres, such as the one located in Fife, or to specific drop-off locations like Safeway on M St. However, this requires additional time and effort, and there is still uncertainty about whether the glass will actually be recycled.
To improve the glass recycling process in Tacoma, it is essential to have accurate information about accepted materials and proper procedures. Residents should review the guidelines provided by the city to ensure they are recycling glass effectively. Additionally, addressing the issues within the recycling system, such as high contamination rates and the challenge of recycling non-uniform materials, could help improve the overall recycling process and increase the likelihood of glass being properly recycled.
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