Maya Ellison
Plastic recycling in Nashville is a contentious issue, with many common plastic items being non-recyclable in the city. Plastic bags, plastic butter tubs, yogurt containers, cottage cheese containers, and loose plastic bottle caps are some of the plastics that are not accepted for recycling in Nashville. These items can cause issues by jamming and breaking recycling machines, and some types of plastics may not have a market for resale. The city's recycling program, 'Recycle Right', aims to educate residents on proper recycling practices to reduce contamination, which currently stands at an alarming rate of 22%.
Explore related products
![KTOB [16 oz. - 50 sets] Disposable Paper Cups with Paper Lids and Compostable Straws, Eco Friendly Non-Plastic Recyclable Cups with Covers for Iced Coffee](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41r5edPCBhL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
![100% Compostable Non Plastic Spoons [100 Pack] CPLA Disposable Spoons. Non Plastic Silverware Set. Eco-Friendly Cutlery, Off White Flatware, Extra Sturdy Utensils, by Earth's Natural Alternative](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71fDrvJ2iuL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
![100% Compostable Clamshell Take Out Food Containers [8X8" 3-Compartment 50-Pack] Heavy-Duty Quality to go Containers, Natural Disposable Bagasse, Eco-Friendly Biodegradable Made of Sugar Cane Fibers](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81mJFQwoSJL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Plastic bags
Recycling coordinator Kelly Tipler says about 30% of the items Davidson County residents try to recycle in their Metro-issued green carts are incorrect, with plastic bags being one of the top three offenders, alongside Styrofoam and yard waste. Plastic bags can ruin entire batches of recyclables when they jam or break the sorting machines.
If you want to recycle plastic bags, you can take them to most grocery stores, including Kroger, Publix, and Trader Joe's, which have recycle bins for plastic grocery bags.
To avoid contaminating your recyclables, it is recommended to put recyclables loose in the bins (not in bags). Other directives include ensuring that items are clean, empty, and dry, and that caps are on plastic bottles, not put in loose, and that cardboard boxes are flattened.
If you are unsure about whether an item is recyclable, you can use the Waste Wizard tool on Nashville's website or download the Nashville Waste and Recycling app, which allows you to look up an item to see if it is recyclable.
Recycling Plastic No. 5: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Compostable Forks [100 Count, 7In] - Compostable Utensils for Party, BBQ, Daily Use - Recyclable Biodegradable Utensils – No Plastic Forks – Sustainable Eco Friendly Disposable Cutlery](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51LzJTyfNQL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Plastic tubs
Some plastic tubs are not recyclable in Nashville because there is no buyer for this type of plastic at the recycling center. This includes tubs used for sour cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, and butter. Black plastic containers, however, are fine to recycle, and plastic butter tubs are now acceptable.
To recycle plastic tubs in Nashville, it is important to ensure they are clean, empty, and dry. Plastic caps should be left on bottles and milk jugs so they don't get lost in the facility, but loose plastic bottle caps are not recyclable. Plastic tubs should be placed loosely in the bin, not in bags, as these can jam and break the sorting machines.
If you are unsure whether a plastic tub can be recycled, it is better to throw it out than to contaminate other recyclables. You can use the Waste Wizard tool on the Nashville government website or the Nashville Waste and Recycling app to check if an item is recyclable.
The Evolution of Azek Vintage: Recycled Plastics Innovation
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![[24 Pack - 32 oz] Plastic Soup Cups Deli Food Storage Containers with Tight Lids Portion Control Non-Spill Stackable Microwaveable Freezer Dishwasher Safe](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71okzXGhUIL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Aerosol cans
If you are unsure about whether an item is recyclable or not, it is recommended to throw it out rather than risk contaminating other recyclables. You can also use the Waste Wizard tool on the Nashville government website to check.
To recycle aerosol cans properly, ensure they are completely empty and dry before placing them in the recycling bin.
Indianapolis' Plastic Recycling Efforts: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic bottle caps
However, loose plastic bottle caps that are separate from the bottle are a different story. Due to their small size, they can fall through the cracks of the machinery at the recycling facility and cause jams or break the equipment. As a result, loose bottle caps are not accepted in Nashville's curbside recycling programme.
The "Recycle Right" programme in Nashville aims to educate residents on what can and cannot be recycled. According to the programme, it is best to avoid placing loose bottle caps in the curbside recycling bins. Instead, it is recommended to screw the cap back onto the plastic bottle before placing it in the recycling bin. This ensures that the cap gets recycled along with the bottle and doesn't cause any issues.
If you have loose bottle caps that you want to recycle, there may be other options available. Some local recycling drop-off centres or convenience centres might accept them. Additionally, some grocery stores, such as Kroger, Publix, and Trader Joe's, provide recycle bins for plastic bags and may accept other small plastics as well. It's always a good idea to check with your local stores to see what their policies are.
It's important to note that the recyclability of plastic bottle caps doesn't just depend on their size but also on the type of plastic they are made from. Different types of plastics have different recycling processes and markets. So, it's always a good idea to check with your local recycling guidelines or use resources like the Nashville Waste and Recycling app or the Waste Wizard tool on the Nashville government website to determine if a specific item is recyclable.
Plastic Bowls: Can They Be Recycled?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic butter tubs
In Nashville, many common plastic items are not recyclable and should be placed in the trash. Plastic bags, for example, are not accepted because they can jam and sometimes break the recycling center's sorting machines. Plastic containers/tubs used for sour cream, yogurt, and cottage cheese are also not accepted by the recycling center as there is no buyer for this type of plastic.
Other non-recyclable items include aerosol cans, shredded paper, styrofoam, wet cardboard, greasy pizza boxes, bubble wrap, plastic cups, face masks, aluminum foil, and pans. Plastic bottle caps should be placed back on the bottles before recycling to prevent them from getting lost in the facility.
To determine whether an item is recyclable in Nashville, you can use the Waste Wizard tool on the Nashville government website or the Nashville Waste and Recycling app.
Recycling Envelopes: Plastic Windows, Yes or No?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Plastic bags of any kind, including garbage bags, grocery bags, and wine bags, cannot be recycled in Nashville. Plastic bags jam and sometimes break the recycling center's sorting machines.
Containers used for sour cream, yogurt, and cottage cheese are a type of plastic that the recycling center in Nashville does not have a buyer for. Plastic butter tubs are also not recyclable.
If you put unrecyclable plastics in your recycling cart, it will not be picked up. If your cart contains contaminants, it will be tagged and you will be notified to remove the unaccepted items.
No, you cannot recycle plastic bags with the numbers 1-7 on them in Nashville. While plastics 1-7 can be recycled, the form of the plastic plays a role in whether it can be recycled at the facility.
