Maya Ellison
Plastic clamshells are a common feature of our daily lives, from salad containers to berry cartons. However, their correct disposal has long been a mystery, with many people unsure of how to recycle them. In Portland, Oregon, there is now a solution for those wanting to recycle plastic clamshells. Previously, these containers would end up in landfills, but a local company called Ridwell has launched a plastic clamshell recycling program. For a small membership fee, they will collect hard-to-recycle items, including plastic clamshells, from your doorstep. This service is a positive step towards reducing plastic waste and encouraging more sustainable practices in Portland.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic clamshells recyclable in Portland | Yes, through Ridwell |
| Cost | $12 a month |
| Curbside recycling | No |
| Drop-off locations | Yes, at some recycling businesses in greater Portland |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic clamshell recycling in Portland via Ridwell
Plastic clamshells are a common source of frustration for many people in Portland, Oregon, as they cannot be recycled through curbside programs. However, Ridwell, a Portland-based recycling company, offers a solution to this problem by providing a plastic clamshell recycling service.
Ridwell's plastic clamshell recycling program is a membership-based service that addresses the issue of hard-to-recycle items like plastic clamshells. Members receive a bin and separate recycling bags to collect their clamshells. The membership starts at \$12 a month, making it an affordable option for those looking to reduce their environmental impact.
The process of recycling clamshells through Ridwell is straightforward. Members collect their clear #1 PET plastic clamshells in the blue bags provided by the company. These clamshells are then picked up by Ridwell and taken to specialized PET recyclers. By collecting directly from members, Ridwell ensures that the clamshells remain uncontaminated, which is a common issue with single-stream recycling processes.
The collected clamshells are washed, reprocessed, and turned into post-consumer resin, which can be used to create new plastics. This recycling process helps to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills, oceans, lakes, and rivers, contributing to a more sustainable future.
Through its partnerships with various recycling companies, Ridwell ensures that the recycled clamshells are given a new life. By choosing to recycle plastic clamshells with Ridwell, Portland residents can play their part in reducing plastic waste and promoting a circular economy.
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Recycling plastic clamshells at a price
Plastic clamshells can be tricky to recycle, even though they are made from PET plastic, which is the most commonly recycled plastic globally. This is because of the process used to make clamshells, called thermoforming, which results in a different grade of PET product compared to PET bottles, which are created through blow moulding.
When plastic clamshells are processed at material recovery facilities (MRFs), operators and sorting equipment struggle to differentiate them from other containers made of different plastics. This results in "contamination" of the final PET bales, reducing the market rate for the recycled product. As a result, many recycling programs and MRFs won't accept clamshells, even though PET is 100% recyclable.
If you are based in Portland, Oregon, you can check with your local recycling facility to see if they accept plastic clamshells. Some recycling businesses in greater Portland do accept plastics that cannot be recycled at home. You can also use the Earth911 Recycling Search by entering your ZIP code to find a local recycling solution for plastic clamshells.
To increase the chances of your plastic clamshells being recycled, ensure they are thoroughly cleaned of any food residue or other contaminants, and remove any labels or adhesive stickers.
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Plastic clamshells as landfill
Plastic clamshells are a single-use plastic that, while technically recyclable, is rarely recycled in the United States. This is due to the fact that most curbside recycling programs do not accept them, and they are difficult to sort once they reach recycling facilities. As a result, clamshells often end up in landfills, contributing to plastic waste.
In Portland, Oregon, plastic clamshells cannot be placed in curbside recycling bins and must be taken to special recycling businesses. This is because clamshells are made from Polyethylene-terephthalate (PET), a type of plastic that is challenging to recycle. PET plastic is strong, lightweight, and easily moulded, making it a popular choice for food packaging. However, clamshells are created using a process called thermoforming, which gives them a different density than other PET products like bottles and jugs. This makes it difficult to process clamshells and bottles together, as they need to be separated to be recycled properly.
Additionally, clamshells often have labels with strong adhesives that are difficult to remove, further complicating the recycling process. The recycling facilities lose money by dealing with lower-quality PET plastic when clamshells are mixed in with bottles and jugs, so many facilities choose not to accept them for recycling. As a result, clamshells often end up in landfills, contributing to waste.
However, some companies in Portland are working to address this issue. Ridwell, a Portland recycling service, launched a plastic clamshell recycling program in 2021. They partnered with Green Impact Plastics to keep clamshells out of landfills and turn them into new products. As of 2021, they have kept more than 112,000 pounds of clamshells out of landfills. Another company, Metro, also offers plastic recycling services in greater Portland, accepting plastic bottles, jars, round containers, buckets, and nursery pots.
To reduce the number of plastic clamshells ending up in landfills, individuals can take several actions. Firstly, they can avoid purchasing products packaged in plastic clamshells and opt for more sustainable alternatives. Secondly, they can contact the manufacturer or producer and express their concerns about plastic packaging, letting them know they will purchase their product again when they switch to a recyclable option. By working together, consumers and manufacturers can help keep plastic clamshells out of landfills and protect the environment.
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Recycling plastic clamshells into new ones
Plastic clamshells are widely used in the food industry, especially during the COVID times, as they hold salads, berries, and food-to-go. However, they cannot be put in curbside recycling bins. In fact, there are no curbside recycling programs in Oregon that accept plastic clamshells. As a result, they often end up in landfills.
Recycling plastic clamshells is challenging due to the nature of the materials used to make them. While both clamshells and drink bottles are #1 PET plastic, they are produced through different processes, resulting in distinct densities. Additionally, plastic clamshells break into different-sized chips, melt at different temperatures, and often have strong adhesives that are difficult to remove. These factors make it hard for recycling facilities to differentiate clamshells from other containers, leading to "contamination" in the final PET bales.
However, there are efforts in Portland, Oregon, to address this issue. Ridwell, a Portland-based recycling service, launched a plastic clamshell recycling program in May 2021. Ridwell members can opt for pickups, ensuring their plastic clamshells are clean and clear, as this is the only type their partner, Green Impact Plastics, can recycle. Green Impact Plastics turns the recycled clamshells into new clamshells. This initiative has kept over 112,000 pounds of clamshells out of landfills, with the number rising to over 150,000 pounds of hard-to-recycle trash, including other materials like plastic film, clothing, batteries, and light bulbs.
If you reside in Portland or specific parts of Seattle or South Puget Sound, you can become a Ridwell member and take advantage of their plastic clamshell recycling service. Memberships start at $12 a month, and you will receive a bin and separate recycling bags for various items.
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Recycling plastic clamshells at recycling businesses
Plastic clamshells are a type of plastic to-go container often used for salads, berries, and food-to-go. They are not accepted in curbside recycling bins in Portland, Oregon, and, historically, there have been no curbside recycling programs in the state that accept plastic clamshells.
However, as of May 2021, Portland recycling service Ridwell has launched its own plastic clamshell recycling program. For a membership fee starting at $12 a month, Ridwell will pick up hard-to-recycle items, including plastic clamshells, from members' homes. Members receive a bin and separate recycling bags for each item. Ridwell has partnered with Green Impact out of Texas to recycle the old clamshells into new ones.
Prior to the launch of Ridwell's program, there were no recycling businesses in Portland that accepted plastic clamshells. In a 2018 Reddit post, a user commented that there are no places to recycle plastic clamshells in North America, and that the best solution is to avoid buying them.
While plastic bags can be recycled, they are not accepted in curbside recycling and must be taken to stores or drop-off locations.
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Frequently asked questions
You can recycle plastic clamshells through Ridwell, a Portland recycling service. Memberships start at $12 a month, and you will be provided with a bin and separate recycling bags for each item.
Plastic clamshells are often used as to-go containers for food items such as salads, berries, and deli products.
No, plastic clamshells cannot be put in your curbside recycling bin in Portland.
Some recycling businesses in Greater Portland accept plastic materials that cannot be recycled at home.
Ridwell also recycles light bulbs, batteries, clothing, styrofoam, and plastic film, among other items.
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