Keeping it Green

The saga on recycling continues.

As of Feb. 15, Sanders County had to stop taking plastics for recycling, due to the high costs of shipping and the extremely poor market value. We recommended that residents continue recycling plastics, and directed efforts towards Republic Services and Pacific Recycling in Missoula. Unfortunately, as of May 7, Pacific Recycling will no longer be able to receive plastics.

Republic Services will still take #1 PET or PETE, best known as the clear plastic used for soft drinks, water, juice, mouthwash, sports drinks and containers for condiments like ketchup, salad dressing, jelly and jam. #1 PETE can be identified by looking at the bottom or backs of containers. Republic Services also takes Plastic #2 HDPE, which is often used for milk, water and juice bottles, as well as bottles for cleaning supplies and shampoo.

There is an option for recycling #5 plastics, which looks fairly simple for those eager enough to participate. #5 plastics aren’t as widely collected as #1 and #2 plastics, but recycling rates are much lower. Gimme 5 is a company that has developed an interesting program to address the issue, and currently gives people easy ways to rescue their #5 plastics from a landfill life sentence. Since we in Montana don’t have the option of a local drop-off bin, #5’s can be mailed to the company. To participate, just box up your CLEAN #5 products and packages and send them—they will take it from there. Just be sure to include your name and email address in the spot provided on the shipping label. Their recommendation: “To make this mail-in recycling program as environmentally effective as possible, we encourage you to keep the footprint small: if possible, reuse a box and pack it densely.” Visit their site for more info. as well as shipping labels at http://www.preserveproducts.com/recycle/gimme-5-mail.

Don’t be discouraged…if we all do what we can, it will make a difference!