Ethan Clarke
Plastic recycling in Missoula is a complicated issue. While the city has a forward-thinking community and a range of recycling options, there are limited plastic recycling facilities in the area. The plastic waste generated in Missoula is often sent to facilities on the West Coast and beyond for processing. However, the journey for some plastic ends in a dead end, with no recycling in its future. The decline of plastic recycling in Missoula can be attributed to various factors, including the limited number of facilities, the complexity of the recycling process, and the contamination of recyclables.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic recycling options in Missoula | Limited |
| Plastic waste in Missoula | Ends up in facilities on the West Coast and beyond |
| Plastic recycling | Common and complicated |
| Plastic recycling facilities in the United States | Limited |
| Plastic recycling in Missoula | Curbside pickup or drop-off at a recycling center |
| Plastic recycling center in Missoula | Republic Services Missoula Recycling Center |
| Address of Republic Services Missoula Recycling Center | 3207 West Broadway, Missoula |
| Phone number of Republic Services Missoula Recycling Center | 406-721-1120 |
| Materials accepted by Republic Services Missoula Recycling Center | Clear #1 PET (e.g. clear soda bottles) and translucent #2 (e.g. translucent milk jugs) |
| Plastic recycling business in Missoula | Growing but unclear what can and cannot be recycled |
| Pacific Steel & Recycling in Missoula | No longer accepts plastic due to economic reasons |
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What You'll Learn
Limited plastic recycling options
Missoula, Montana, is a forward-thinking community with a strong commitment to recycling. However, it faces challenges due to limited plastic recycling options. While the city has made significant strides in recycling various materials, plastic recycling remains a complex issue.
One challenge is the limited number of facilities equipped to process plastic. Plastic recycling facilities in the United States are scarce, and the material is challenging to break down. This results in plastic waste from Missoula being transported to distant locations, including the West Coast and beyond, for processing. However, even then, some plastic ends up in landfills or oceans without being recycled.
The Republic Services Missoula Recycling Center plays a crucial role in plastic recycling in the city. The centre has been in operation since 1971 and processes a substantial volume of materials annually. While it accepts plastic for recycling, it has specific requirements. Currently, the centre only accepts clear #1 PET (such as clear soda bottles) and translucent #2 (such as milk jugs). These plastics are separated, inspected for cleanliness, and then compressed into bales for shipment to another processing facility.
Another challenge is the contamination of recyclables. Despite guidelines, some individuals deposit dirty containers or non-recyclable products in the recycling bins, making it harder to sell the recycled material. This contamination issue has led to significant financial losses for recycling companies, with some, like Pacific Steel and Recycling, opting to discontinue plastic recycling services.
To address these limitations, organisations like Zero by Fifty Missoula offer guidance on reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic. They encourage residents to limit purchasing plastics that cannot be recycled and provide alternatives, such as donating reusable plastic items to thrift stores. Additionally, they promote the reuse of plastic containers through initiatives like the Good Food Store's programme, which accepts containers with wide lids for reuse.
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Plastic downcycling
Downcycling is often the only option for recycling plastic because plastic degrades into smaller and smaller pieces and contains many toxic chemicals. It is now part of the food chain through microplastic pollution. As a result, it is difficult to maintain consistent material properties for high-quality applications, so virgin plastics may be added to meet standards. However, this can be costly and energy-intensive, and it does not address the root cause of the plastic waste crisis.
In Missoula, Montana, plastic waste is collected by Republic Services, which operates a recycling center in the city. This center has been around since 1971 and processes over 13 million pounds of materials per year. However, it is not clear what percentage of this material is plastic, and there are limited options for plastic recycling in the area. Republic Services' Missoula Recycling Center only takes clear #1 PET (e.g. clear soda bottles) and translucent #2 (e.g. translucent milk jugs), and these must be clean and dry to be recycled.
Even the higher-quality plastics that Republic Services collects can only be turned into simpler products. This is because plastic can’t actually be recycled, only downcycled, which means its quality declines each time it is reprocessed. This creates other environmental issues, as more than 90% of the waters tested in Montana for plastics by a team of citizen scientists last summer turned up positive results.
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Plastic waste journey
Plastic waste generated in Missoula has a long and uncertain journey ahead of it. While the city has shown a commitment to recycling, with various initiatives and education campaigns, the reality of plastic recycling is more complicated.
The first step in Missoula's plastic waste journey is the recycling bin. The city offers a range of recycling options, including curbside pick-up and drop-off locations. Republic Services, Missoula's curbside recycling business, accepts clean, dry, and empty plastic, along with other materials like metals, paper, and cardboard. However, contamination is a significant issue, with non-recyclable items or dirty containers frequently ending up in the bins.
Once collected, the plastic waste is taken to a local recycling center, such as the Republic Services Missoula Recycling Center on West Broadway. Here, the plastics are sorted, cleaned, and compressed into bales for shipment to another processing facility. Only certain types of plastic, such as clear #1 PET (e.g., soda bottles) and translucent #2 (e.g., milk jugs), are accepted by the center, further limiting the amount of plastic that can be recycled.
From the local recycling center, the bales of plastic waste are shipped to facilities on the West Coast and beyond for further processing. However, even at these facilities, the plastic may not be truly recycled. As Sarah Lundquist, the zero-waste education manager at Home ReSource in Missoula, explains, plastic can only be downcycled, meaning its quality declines with each reprocessing. Even higher-quality plastics can only be turned into simpler products, creating environmental issues.
With limited facilities equipped to handle plastic recycling in the United States, some plastic waste from Missoula may be shipped overseas, contributing to other countries becoming dumping grounds. This has led to concerns about ocean pollution and unlined landfills, as stories emerge of foreign recycling handlers disposing of plastic they cannot recycle.
The plastic waste journey from Missoula highlights the complexities and challenges of plastic recycling. While the city and its residents are making efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle, the fate of their plastic waste is often uncertain, underscoring the need for more sustainable systems to manage the volume of plastic waste being generated.
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Plastic recycling costs
The recycling process for plastics is intricate, and the material is challenging to break down. This complexity contributes to higher costs. Additionally, the quality of plastic degrades with each recycling cycle, limiting its usability to just two to three cycles before it becomes unusable. This degradation issue further increases costs as recycled plastic cannot be used for certain products.
Contamination is another critical issue that affects plastic recycling costs. Certain plastic items, such as plastic bags and jars with leftovers, are frequently contaminated and can contaminate entire bales of recyclable materials if not properly cleaned and processed. Contamination incidents can result in entire batches being sent to landfills, wasting resources and increasing overall costs.
Despite the challenges, there is a growing global demand for high-quality recyclable materials, which is driving the development of new technologies and infrastructure. These advancements are expected to lower the price of recycling in the future, making it more cost-effective to recycle plastic.
Furthermore, when considering the cost-effectiveness of recycling, it is essential to look beyond financial profit. Recycling has significant environmental and social benefits, such as reducing pollution and creating jobs. These positive externalities contribute to its overall value and make a strong case for investing in and supporting recycling initiatives, even when immediate financial gains may not be apparent.
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Plastic recycling contamination
In Missoula, plastic recycling contamination is a concern due to limited recycling options and a lack of processing facilities. While the Republic Services Missoula Recycling Center accepts certain types of plastic for recycling, such as clear #1 PET (e.g., soda bottles) and translucent #2 (e.g., milk jugs), it is important for residents to ensure that these plastics are clean and free of food residue to avoid contamination. Plastic bags, for example, are frequently on the contaminator list and can cause issues if not properly cleaned and recycled.
The consequences of plastic recycling contamination can be far-reaching. Contamination can lead to reduced quality or complete elimination of the recycled items' value. It can also result in recyclable materials being sent to landfills instead of being sorted and recycled. Additionally, contamination can cause damage to recycling machinery, as some equipment is not equipped to handle certain materials, such as plastic bags or film.
To address plastic recycling contamination, it is crucial to provide clear and effective labelling on recycling bins, ensuring that users understand what materials can be recycled and where they should be placed. Educating the public about proper recycling practices and the specific guidelines for their city or state is essential. By empowering individuals to participate in a more circular economy, we can reduce contamination rates and improve the overall recycling process.
Overall, plastic recycling contamination is a complex issue that requires collective effort to address. By being mindful of what can and cannot be recycled, properly cleaning and preparing recyclables, and advocating for improved recycling systems, we can make a positive impact on the environment and reduce the negative consequences of plastic waste.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic recycling in Missoula is complicated because there are limited facilities in the United States that can recycle plastic. Plastic can't actually be recycled, only downcycled, which means its quality declines each time it is reprocessed.
Missoula has a few plastic recycling options. The Republic Services Missoula Recycling Center on West Broadway accepts clean, dry, and empty plastic. They also provide curbside bins for plastic recycling. Additionally, Precious Plastic Missoula takes some plastic from residents of the university area.
The Republic Services Missoula Recycling Center accepts #1 plastics (e.g., soda bottles) and #2 plastics (e.g., milk jugs). They must be clean and dry for recycling.
One challenge is that not all plastics are recyclable, and even the recyclable higher-quality plastics can only be downcycled into simpler products. Additionally, ensuring that recycled items are clean and free of contaminants can be difficult, and contamination can force an entire bale to be sent to a landfill. The cost of plastic recycling is also a significant challenge, with the process requiring labor, equipment, and processing.
