Did you know that starting Oct. 1, it will be against state law to throw plastic bottles in your trash?
A state law banning disposal of plastic bottles in landfills takes effect Oct. 1, 2009. Plastic bottles, including water, milk, soda, and sports bottles, join aluminum cans, which have been banned since 1994, as items that must be recycled. However, this does NOT include yogurt containers, buckets, or containers used to hold motor oil or pesticides.
In addition, new disposal bans on used oil filters, oyster shells and wooden pallets also go into effect Oct. 1, 2009.
Though supporters say the new law is needed and is a step forward, there is no real way to enforce the statute, which requires people to recycle.
Scott Mouw, state recycling director, stated: “It’ll help us reduce waste going to the landfills. Obviously, it’ll help us recover a valuable material. We hope it will make a difference. We hope people will take this law in the spirit that it’s intended, which is to say to everybody in North Carolina that we need to do a better job of recovering this material.”
Mouw said about 70,000 tons of plastic ends up in the state’s landfills each year. Only about 20 percent gets recycled.
All types of plastic can be recycled. Most people are familiar with the PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and HDPE (high-density polyethylene). These bottles have a #1 or a #2 on the bottom of the container.
Examples of #1 Plastic: Soda bottles, mouthwash bottles, peanut butter containers, salad dressing and vegetable oil containers, ovenable food trays. These should be without caps on. These plastics can be recycled into polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps and (occasionally) new containers.
Examples of #2 plastic: Milk jugs, juice bottles, bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles, shampoo bottles, some trash and shopping bags, butter and yogurt tubs, cereal box liners. These plastics can be recycled into laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, recycling containers, floor tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables and fencing.
In addition to #1 and #2 plastics, #3 plastic is being taken locally. Number 3 plastic is PVC and vinyl, which can be recycled into decks, paneling, mudflaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps and mats.
Several areas of the county such as Asheboro have access to curbside recycling. However, if you live in rural Randolph County, collect your plastic and take it to a Randolph County convenience site or the County Solid Waste Facility off Henley Country Road. Randolph County does not charge for recycling.
If you have questions on the new state law, call the N.C. Cooperative Extension at (336) 318-6000.
Carolyn Langley is the county extension director for the Randolph County Center of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service in Asheboro. She can be reached at (336) 318-6000 or by e-mail at carolyn_langley@ncsu.edu.
