Paper towels—2-4 weeks

Newspaper——6 weeks

Apple Core——2 months

Waxed milk cartons—3 months

Photodegradable 6 pack ring–6 months

StrBiodegradable diaper—1 year

Wool glove—1 year

Plywood—1-3 years

Styrofoam cup—80 years

Tin can—50 years

Styrofoam buoy—80 years

Aluminum cans—200 years

Plastic 6 pack ring—-400 years

Plastic bottle—-450 years

Disposable diaper—450 years

Monofilament fishing line—600 years

Glass bottles & jars—-could be forever

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Last year a wonderful thing happened in our community,  a local waste management (garbage) company added a flexible plastic recycling bin to one of their recycling stations (a service our local curbside recycling does not support). A station which already contained the typical recycling bins: mixed paper and cardboard, metal and plastic containers (all services, thankfully, our local curbside recycling program does support).

With the addition of the flexible plastic recycling, which included any flexible plastic like: plastic grocery bags, produce bags, bread bags, zip-lock type bags, shrink-wrap, candy wrappers, cerebral bags… anything that is plastic and flexible, garbage waste at home and at work was significantly cut back. I noticed a tremendous change in the amount of garbage waste. Unfortunately, they cancelled the program and I were left puzzled.

A possible solution? Grocery bag recycling at local supermarkets, such as Meijer (my choice) and Walmart. However, that leaves a lot of flexible plastic out of recycling. I’ve contacted both stores in an attempt to gain a clearer definition to the plastics accepted at their facilities because the last thing I’d like to see happen is recycling go to waste or create an issue by including un-recyclable plastics (for this particular application).

Not to my surprise, the local managers didn’t really know. One location told me they except plastic grocery bags only. The next location said the same, until I start probing, then they fumbled into admitting they really weren’t sure. I was then directed, by one store, to a “consumer affairs” number, which turns out to be just a general customer service line. Fair Enough. The customer service was very kind and helpful, though she had even less a clue regarding their recycling program than the local manager. I was then directed to corporate. After filtering through a long list of corporate departments, I found myself back on the phone with the same customer service representative. Uuuurrrrggghhhhh.

After being washed and wrung out of the corporate ringer, and with a little research and intuition, I believe I have it narrowed down; these facilities accept plastic grocery bags and produce bags (or any High Density Polyethylene, or HDPE, flexible plastic bags with the number 2 recycling symbol on them). No zip locks, no cereal bags, no shrink wrap, no bread bags, etc. (most of which are Low Density Polyethylene, or LDPE, plastic with the number 4 recycling symbol). Which, as previously stated, leaves lots of plastic to be thrown unwillingly in the trash.

Why is flexible plastic recycling seemingly such a hassle in my community? Is it really too big a job for facilities to handle? Do other communities have this service available? I know that compared to other states, and even other communities within our state, we have a pretty good recycling program that I have been proud to support and actively participate in. But after noticing how much more can be recycled with all flexible plastic being recycled, it’s a program I think no community should be without. I also have a fellow avid recycler from our local chamber of commerce looking into the issue further.

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