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Tips for Being a Better Recycler

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Clean, sorted material is still in demand, but contamination is a deal killer—recycling right is more important than ever

Recycling sorting facility
Recycling it right is the best way to make sure it is recycled at all…

Recycling our waste has many benefits and the business of recycling is changing, mainly requiring less contamination and more sorting. The price for recycled materials can drop due to 1) high levels of contamination collected from homes and businesses, and 2) changing international markets especially in China and other Asian countries.

Our U.S. recycling processors are working hard to adjust but it will take time to regain the more robust markets we have had in the past. Clean, sorted materials are still in demand, but contamination is a deal killer.

That’s why it’s crucial that we are diligent about sorting our recyclables and making sure we put the right stuff in the right bin. When we take the time to sort materials we insure recycling is economically viable and sustainable long term. And, we will continue to reap recycling’s benefits –  resource conservation, energy savings, landfills with longer life and recycled materials for new products.

We have great recycling opportunities in the Railbelt in large part thanks to ALPAR’s donors: Alaska’s shipping companies: Matson, TOTE Maritime, AML/Lynden and the Alaska Railroad. Their contributions that help move our materials to markets Outside, making recycling economically feasible for our communities, residents and businesses. We owe them a debt of gratitude for making recycling work in Alaska.

Be a recycler, not a wish-cyler

Wish-cycling: When a recycler is not sure if something is recyclable, but they wish it were, so they throw it in the bin. Results may vary but usually elicits very sad faces at the recycling center.

  • Even a little contamination can hurt.
  • Find out what is recyclable and what isn’t which sometimes may take a little extra effort: every community has it’s own set of rules because every community takes only a specific menu of materials.
  • Recycling requires diligence. Example: Putting plastic bags or boxes filled with your newspapers or aluminum cans in a bin is considered a contaminant. You must empty bags or boxes of material into the bin.

Know your curbside recycling rules

Curbside recycling is available in Anchorage, although there are a few exceptions. This mix of material is sent to Seattle for sorting and it must be contaminant free. Check with your local curbside service (MOA Solid Waste Services or Alaska Waste) to know what goes in the bin.

Plastic can be complicated – if in doubt, throw it out

Did you know there are almost 30 different plastic commodities in the marketplace and in most places in Alaska we only take 3 of those? Commodities are different than plastic resins. The number that you see in the chasing arrow is a RESIN number. Commodities can be different types but with the same resin number.

All plastic products are not created equal: a bottle will have a chemical added to the resin that is different than the chemical added to a clamshell so they are not the same. (ie a #1 PET bottles is a commodity type, while a #1 PET non-bottle rigid is another commodity type.) Bottles are much more valuable than non-bottles.

  • Plastic has a very low tolerance for contamination because new products require specific material – that’s why sorting is so important. Also, many products are marked as “recyclable,” however not all products can be recycled locally. If you are not sure, check out the “what goes where” information offered by MOA Solid Waste Services in Anchorage, or service areas covered by Alaska Waste. When in doubt, throw it out rather than risk contaminating an entire load.

Containers should be empty and clean

Make sure containers are empty of liquids or food. Caps can be reattached to plastic bottles but make sure they are empty first. Remove plastic sleeves from newspapers. When dealing with glass bottles and jars, remove lids and caps; a quick rinse is all that is necessary; and labels can be left on glass.

Using drop off bins is a good thing

When you drop off your pre-sorted materials at the recycling center or drop off sites, they retain more value than mixed curbside. Southcentral drop off locations:

Recycle electronics and appliances

With the massive amounts of technology in the world today, our landfills are brimming with defunct computer systems, cellular phones, televisions, printers and more. Instead of ditching your obsolete tech toys into the trash you can take them to Total Reclaim in Anchorage or call your local electronics store to see whether they provide a recycling option. Some landfills are taking electronics for recycling. Check with your local landfill or visit their website. This may not be free but it’s the right thing to do due to hazardous materials that are contained in many electronics.

For many old appliances, it may be dangerous to simply discard in the trash. This is especially important for fridges and freezers that were manufactured before 1995, as they may have a type of insulation (CFC-11) that can be destructive to the environment. To help you dispose of these appliances in a safe manner, check with your local landfill, or with a local metal recycler such as Central Recycling Services or Alaska Scrap & Recycling in Anchorage or C&R Metal Recycling in Fairbanks.

Buy recycled – close the loop

If you are recycling to minimize your carbon footprint, it makes sense to use the same principles when purchasing new items.

  • When you buy items made from recycled materials you are using your dollars to vote for greener business practices, letting companies know that products made in an eco-friendly manner matter to you.
  • Items that are made from recycled goods are more likely to be recyclable again once you are finished using them.

Have some of your own recycling tips? Share on ALPAR’s FB page and keep it clean!