You might be a big recycler, but are you doing it correctly?
“We don’t want any crinkly type plastics. So if you squeeze a bag and it’s crinkly or it’s really firm or crunchy, it’s a no. So those resealable freezer pouches that you might get frozen fruit or vegetables in, if it stands up on a shelf, it’s probably a no.”
Foiled lined bags like chip bags and cracker bags are also among the items that are not acceptable.
“So what we’re really looking for is that soft, malleable plastic that isn’t shrink wrap or isn’t like a Saran, a cling wrap, and when you squeeze it, it opens slowly. So, specifically things like bread bags, milk bags that are clean and dry, grocery bags and produce bags. Any of the little bits and pieces of plastic or produce also need to be removed so it’s nice and clean and ready for production.”
One of the easiest ways to determine if it’s recyclable is the scrunch test.
Squeeze it up into a ball in your hand. If you open your hand and stays scrunched up, it’s recyclable. If it bounces back, it’s garbage!
Bancroft says many municipal programs have already cut out the collection of film plastics and Quinte Waste Solutions may have to do the same if the rules aren’t adhered to.
“We’re being rejected from markets. And if we don’t have a home to send this material to, to a manufacturer who can use it, then it ends up being garbage. And we don’t want to take things that we shouldn’t be taking, just for good optics. We really want to make sure that we’re pretty transparent and our residents know that when they put something in the blue box that it will be getting recycled.”
Quinte Waste Solutions is offering more information on the dos and don’ts of film plastics recycling on its website.
