Maya Ellison
Recycling plastic and aluminum is an important way to lower your carbon footprint and protect the planet. Aluminum is one of the most valuable forms of scrap that recycling centers deal with, and it is also one of the most recycled drink containers in the United States. Plastic bags, on the other hand, are among the most common sources of marine debris and can be mistaken as food by birds and fish. However, both materials can be recycled and given a new life, reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
Where to recycle plastic and aluminum
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Select Walmart and Sam's Club locations |
| Type | Self-service drop-off container |
| Accepted Items | Aluminum, clear plastic containers, home cleaning & beauty product bottles, plastic bags & films, plastic bottles, rigid food packaging, yogurt tubs, frozen and ready meal trays |
| Not Accepted | Aerosols, glass, colored plastic, plastics #3 PVC, #5 PP, #6 PS or #7 Other, milk or water jugs, shopping bags, snack or chip packaging, cardboard or paper |
| Cost | Free |
| Preparation | Empty all liquids and food from waste before depositing |
| Beverage Container Recycling Centers | Buy back empty California Refund Value (CRV) beverage containers, daily load limit of 100 pounds each for aluminum and plastic |
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What You'll Learn
Community Recycling Units
When using Community Recycling Units, it is essential to ensure that all liquid and food residue has been removed from the items. This is to prevent contamination of the waste stream, which could render otherwise recyclable materials unusable. While there are no costs associated with using these recycling units, it is important to remember that recycling is not guaranteed. This is because contaminated materials cannot be recycled, and recycling rates may vary.
The Community Recycling Units strive to recycle eligible materials to the maximum extent possible. They accept all brands of packaging, regardless of where the items were purchased. This service is provided through the generous donations of sponsors, who help to offset operational costs.
To use the Community Recycling Units, simply drop off your accepted items after ensuring they are clean and free of any food or liquid residue. By using these units responsibly, you can play a part in reducing waste and promoting sustainability in your community.
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Beverage Container Recycling Centers
California has a robust system for recycling beverage containers. The state's CalRecycle program includes 1,339 recycling centres that buy back empty California Refund Value (CRV) beverage containers. Consumers pay CRV when they purchase beverages from a retailer and receive refunds when they redeem the containers at a recycling centre. CRV is 5 cents per container for those less than 24 ounces and 10 cents for containers 24 ounces or larger.
Most beverages sold in glass, plastic, or metal are subject to CRV, except for milk, medical food, infant formula, wine, and distilled spirits. 100% fruit juice in containers 46 ounces or more and 100% vegetable juice over 16 oz are also exempt. Consumers can bring up to 50 aluminium, 50 glass, 50 plastic, and 50 bi-metal CRV containers and request to be paid by count rather than weight. If recycling more than 50 containers of any one material, the decision to pay by count or weight is at the operator's discretion.
Daily load limits of empty CRV containers are 100 pounds each for aluminium and plastic and 1,000 pounds for glass. If a load includes non-CRV containers, the recycling centre must reject the load or pay only scrap value. To find a bottle and can redemption centre near you, simply enter your ZIP code.
Recycling centres are not owned or operated by the State of California, and non-compliance with regulations may result in fines, penalties, or decertification. Consumers can lodge complaints against a recycling centre or retailer by emailing their name, phone number, a summary of the issue, and the entity's name and address to [email protected].
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What to recycle
When it comes to recycling plastic and aluminum, it's important to know what can and can't be recycled. Many recycling programs accept a wide range of plastic and aluminum items, but there are still some restrictions. Here's a detailed guide on what to recycle:
Plastic Bottles: Most recycling programs accept plastic bottles, including water bottles, soda bottles, and sports drink bottles. However, it's important to ensure that these bottles are empty and free of any liquids or contaminants. Milk and detergent jugs are also usually accepted, but it's always good to double-check with your local recycling guidelines.
Aluminum Containers: Aluminum cans and containers are widely accepted by recycling centers. This includes beverage cans and containers, such as soda cans and beer cans. Like with plastic, ensure that these containers are empty and free of any residual liquids or food.
Clear Plastic Containers: Clear plastic trays, clamshells, and cups used for bakery items, produce, and fruits can often be recycled. However, colored plastics may not be accepted by some recycling programs, so it's important to check local guidelines.
Dairy Containers: Containers such as yogurt and butter tubs are usually accepted by recycling centers. Frozen meal trays and other similar packaging can also be included.
Plastic Bags and Films: Many recycling programs accept plastic shopping bags, bread bags, cereal bags, and even cling wrap and bubble wrap. However, it's important to keep these separate from other plastics and ensure they are clean and dry.
What Not to Recycle: It's important to note that some items are not accepted by most recycling programs. This includes items like snack or chip packaging, cardboard, paper, and aerosol cans. Additionally, certain types of plastic, such as PVC and PP, are often not recyclable and should be disposed of separately.
Remember, it's crucial to check with your local recycling center or program to understand their specific guidelines and restrictions. Some centers, such as the Community Recycling Units at Walmart and Sam's Club, may have additional items they accept or special preparation requirements for the recyclables.
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What not to recycle
When it comes to recycling, it is important to know what items are not accepted. This can vary depending on your local recycling program, so it is always good to check with them first. However, here is a list of general items that should not be recycled:
Plastic
- Plastic bags and plastic wrap/film: These items cannot go in your household recycling bin and should be taken to a local store or drop-off location that accepts them.
- Containers contaminated with food: While it is not necessary to have spotless containers, they should be "spatula-clean" to be recycled.
- Some types of plastics: Certain plastics may not be accepted by your community recycling program. Check with your local program to find out which types they accept.
Aluminum
- Aluminum cans that are crushed: Crushed cans are harder to detect during sorting at recycling facilities, especially in areas with single-stream recycling. However, if you have multi-stream recycling, crushing cans is not an issue.
- Food residue: While aluminum foil can be recycled, it is important to remove any food residue before doing so.
Other materials
- Broken glass: Glass shards can harm workers and damage equipment.
- Drinking glasses, eyeglasses, glass furniture, mirrors, or light bulbs: These items are not accepted for recycling.
- Batteries: Most batteries, including lithium-ion, lithium metal, nickel-cadmium, and rechargeable batteries, should not be placed in household garbage or recycling bins. They require special handling and should be taken to specialty drop-off locations or household hazardous waste collection points.
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Preparing items for recycling
Preparing aluminium and plastic items for recycling is an important step in the recycling process. Here are some detailed instructions to ensure your aluminium and plastic items are ready for recycling:
Aluminium:
- Clean and rinse: If you're recycling aluminium foil, trays, or pans, scrub away any food remnants, such as meat or sauce, before taking them to a recycling centre.
- Separate from other materials: Remove foil or aluminium items from any disposable plastic containers, corrugated tubing, or other materials they might have been attached to.
- Ball up foil: After separation, foil should be balled up for easier handling and transportation to the recycling centre.
- Check local guidelines: Ensure you are aware of what types of aluminium your local recycling program accepts.
Plastic:
- Rinse and clean: Wash out any food or drink containers to remove residue before placing them in your recycling bin.
- Separate by type: Sort your plastic items into different bins or containers based on their type. Different types of plastic have distinct recycling properties.
- Check local guidelines: Not all plastic items are accepted by every local recycling program. Check your local guidelines to ensure you are only recycling acceptable items.
- Avoid plastic bags: Do not place plastic bags or flexible films, such as shrink wrap or zip lock bags, in your curbside recycling bin unless specifically instructed to do so by your local program. Instead, return these items to store drop-off locations.
- Reduce plastic waste: One of the most effective ways to contribute to plastic recycling is to reduce your plastic waste. Opt for products with less packaging, and bring your own reusable bags and containers when shopping.
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Frequently asked questions
You can recycle plastic and aluminum at a Community Recycling Unit, which is a free, self-service drop-off container for recyclables available at select Walmart and Sam's Club locations. You can also find a recycling center that will buy back empty California Refund Value (CRV) beverage containers near where you live or work.
The Community Recycling Unit accepts clear plastic containers, plastic bottles, plastic bags and films, and rigid food packaging. They also accept plastic water, soda, and sports drink bottles, as well as yogurt, butter, and other dairy tubs.
The Community Recycling Unit accepts aluminum cans and containers.
