Recycling Q & A

By Jack Nystrom, Recycling Coordinator

 

Q:     Waste Hauler is Commingling – I see my waste haul is commingling my recyclables with my trash.  What can I do to stop this?

A:  If your hauler is commingling, your recyclables will definitely end up in the trash. You should contact your hauler to ask why.  If you are not satisfied, then you should strongly consider switching to a different hauler.

The haulers recommended by Franklin Township provide separate recycling pickup.  However, recycling is not mandated by an ordinance in Franklin.  Please notify Franklin if you see that your hauler is commingling.  Provide the hauler’s name and date.  Haulers that commingle may be dropped from the recommended list.

Q: Styrofoam - Where can I take polystyrene packing peanuts or blocks of styrofoam so that they are recycled responsibly?

A: Styrofoam is not allowed in Single Stream Recycling.  There is no significant end use market.  Also, the amount of plastic in the total volume is very low.  However it can be recycled locally.  Turnkey Marketing Associates in Kennett accepts packing peanuts.  Many UPS Store locations also accept them.  The Lanchester Landfill and Dart Container accepts block styrofoam. Click here  for more information.

Q: Boxes - What is the best way to recycle cardboard when I bring it to the recycling bins?

A: The SECCRA recycling bins at the township building can hold a lot of material, but they are often used inefficiently because cardboard boxes are not flattened before being placed in the bin. In some cases, the bins are overflowing when they don’t need to be. Please flatten all cardboard boxes before placing them into the bins. Consider keeping a box cutter or utility knife in a safe and convenient place at your home or vehicle to cut the box tape and expedite flattening. Be sure the blade is covered when not in use.

Q: Motor Oil Bottles - Those 5-quart and 1-quart plastic motor oil bottles have the recycling triangle on them. Should I put them in with my other recyclables for pickup?

A: Don’t Recycle used plastic motor oil containers. They are hard to properly clean.  They are often marked with a recycling triangle. However, the residue in the empty bottles means that consumers of recycled plastic don’t want them. Instead, these bottles should be disposed of in the trash by the homeowner or business that empties them. If they do go into recycling, sorting facilities will pull them out and put them into the trash.

Q: Clothes Hangers - Metal/Wire clothes hangers are not accepted for recycling by our local waste haulers.  So what can we do to keep them out of the landfill?

A: Take them back to the Dry Cleaner! A survey of five cleaners in our area found they all take back hangers. Call ahead if you want to be sure!

 

 

Q: Shredded Paper - I shred my office documents. Can I recycle the shredded papers?

A: Yes!  SECCRA (the bins at the township building) accepts shredded paper when it is confined in paper bags.

Q: Plastic Bags - Why can’t I dispose of plastic bags in single stream recycling?

A: The single stream sorting facilities are not equipped to handle plastic bags, even though they may be marked with a recycling triangle.   The bags can jam the sorting equipment.  These bags should be recycled by putting them into a collection bin at a grocery store or home center store.

Q: Bottle Caps - Why can’t I dispose of bottle caps in single stream recycling?

A: Most bottle caps are not made of the same materials as the bottles they are on.   And they are too small to be captured in sorting equipment.  Instead, they should be put in the trash.

 

J. Nystrom – Revised 1/13/2023