People tend to be "aspirational" when it comes to recycling. If we think there’s a chance something might be recyclable, we’ll just toss it in the recycling bin. After all, what harm could there possibly be in that?
It turns out it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to recycling. Although it’s well-intentioned to choose the recycling bin over the trash can, if a non-recyclable item gets in the stream it could contaminate an entire batch, causing items that could otherwise be reused to be sent to a landfill or incinerated.
That’s why it’s important to know what is and isn’t accepted as recyclable, especially during this time when the recycling industry is changing dramatically. With the recycling industry experiencing depressed market pricing and China refusing most U.S. recyclables, many recycling operations across the country have changed.
Often, these changes can occur without people realizing, leaving them out-of-touch with their city or town’s current recycling guidelines. With this in mind, the Cricket is introducing a mini-series on the state of recycling today and what you can, cannot, and can no longer recycle in the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea.
First off, before addressing what residents can or can’t recycle, it’s important to address exactly how residents should recycle.
Specifically - "Items for recycling should not be placed in plastic bags," advised Alison Anholt-White, chair of the Manchester Sustainability Committee. "The whole bag and its contents will be discarded at the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF)."
A few months ago, it came to the Town’s attention that some residents were putting their entire recycle deposit in large, tied-up bin liners. Recyclables received in plastic bags or liners are entirely rejected at the MRF, regardless of their content, so all of the bags were trashed.
This past May, Manchester’s recyclables were audited for contamination over a period of two weeks. Unfortunately, more than half of the contamination was from recyclables received in plastic bags, which were entirely unable to be used. It is an honest and easy mistake for residents to make, albeit one with alarming consequences, and luckily it also has an easy fix: don’t use any form of plastic bag or liner in your recycling barrel or bin.
You can choose a barrel or bin of any size, or if you prefer, a large tote with a lid. All designated recycling containers, however, must be marked with a recycling sticker that is a free and can be picked up at the DPW Office.
All paper, glass and metal recyclable materials can go in the same container to be put out at curbside. And while there is technologically no limit to how many recyclable items you can set out each week, the driver must be able to lift your container of items. So, if your recycling weighs more than thirty pounds, try to spread it over several weeks.
Now that we’ve covered the manner in which residents must recycle, we will get into whether or not certain items are permitted for recycling in upcoming issues of the paper (highlighting items that may surprise you) and touch more on the state of recycling today.
The following items cannot be recycled and must go in orange bags as trash if you would like the Town of Manchester to dispose of them. Otherwise, you may want to look into donating or reusing some of these items, or recycling them through specialized organizations or programs.
Shredded paper
Scrap metal and spiral bound notebooks
Tyvek-style (“peel and seal”) and padded envelopes
Tissue paper and gift wrap
Regular light bulbs and regular batteries (as opposed to rechargeable)
Tanglers (cords, wires, cables, straws)
Plastic bags, plastic wrap
Hard/rigid plastics (children's toys, garden hoses, buckets, etc.)
Styrofoam (including packing peanuts)
Prescription bottles and medical containers
Carpets and rugs
Anything smaller than 2 inch x 2 inch x 2 inch
Exceptions: Currently, clear plastic water bottles, rinsed detergent-type bottles, clean tubs with lids on, and clear plastic egg cartons are the only plastic that can be recycled.
