Recycling Odds and Ends

Odds and Ends

Paperboard
(cereal boxes, six-pack boxes, etc.):
SRP now accepts paperboard (also known as chipboard)!! Place your paperboard in the brown cardboard bins at the drop-off centers.

Wood Waste:
Please contact the SRP office (668-5703) for information on this new program. Ideally, by the Spring of 2003, SRP will be operating the wood waste recycling program at the landfill where everything from slash to construction debris will be collected for composting or reuse.

Plastic bags:
Walmart and City Market presently accept plastic grocery bags to be recycled. Plastic bags are usually made from #4 plastic. Plastic recycling is relatively new and has a growing infrastructure. #1 and #2 plastics have been a more developed recycling base. In addition, weather (wind, rain, snow, and even sun) in Summit County makes recycling plastic bags extremely difficult as they must be dry to be shipped and are easily blown away.

Plastic tubs:
Even though plastic tubs are often made from #1 or #2 plastic and have the recycling symbol on them, this does not mean they are recyclable. The numbered code signifies the type of chemicals used to create the plastic container. Even plastic with the same numbered codes are made differently. All bottles (with a neck) are blow-molded, and all tubs are injection molded. This causes the plastics to have different melting temperatures. Presently, SRP can only accept materials for which there is a market - #1 and #2 bottles only. We can not accept tubs as we no longer have a place to ship them. Please reuse them or reduce the amount you purchase by looking for larger bulk containers (with less packaging in the end) or other alternatives.

Motor oil containers:
Plastics are made from petroleum. Any plastic container that has once contained motor oil (even if it is a #1 or #2 bottle) can no longer be recycled. Motor oil reaches into the pores of the plastic and can not be cleaned in conventional pre-recycling methods. Please reuse your motor oil containers when possible or invest in durable container to transfer your oil from your engine to the recycling center.

Foam packing peanuts:
Foam peanuts create huge messes at the recycling centers! Please do not bring them to us! One gust of wind and a box of peanuts can send a staff member on a wild goose chase for a long time, (not to mention the escaped peanuts that can easily float to a nearby stream or forest). Please take them to MAIL BOXES, ETC. There are two locations in Summit County, one in Breckenridge in the City Market complex and one is Dillon in the Office Max complex.

Working appliances and durable household goods:
There are numerous thrift stores in Summit County. Please inquire before dropping them off. Or, place a conspicuous note on the appliance that it still works and drop it off at the Frisco recycling center. Look for a page on this web site to list or advertise your goods – coming soon.

Household Hazardous Waste (Paints, antifreeze, bleach, cleaning supplies, pesticides, medicines, nail polish remover, and countless other substances:
Please contact SRP to make an appointment to drop off your HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE - or visit our Household Hazardous Waste page for more details on the program.

**Please DO NOT bring HHW to the recycling drop-off centers as appointments are required and HHW material is collected at the landfill not our drop-off centers.

PLASTICS
Plastics are difficult to recycle. They must be "clean" (free from contamination) to ultimately be recycled. They cost SRP money to recycle, as the plastics market has been extremely low in the past few years paying only a half-cent per pound of plastic. Presently, SRP can only accept #1 and #2 bottles. If it were economically feasible we would accept all plastics created since they are completely non-biodegradable. However, this scenario is very far away. We encourage you to avoid plastic whenever possible. Glass, aluminum, tin, and even paper are easily and consistently recyclable.

Plastics We Do Accept:
#1 Pet Bottles: Mostly soda pop bottles, water and juice bottles. Any clear #1 plastic bottle with a threaded neck. (Beware of #3 clear bottles that are similar in appearance, but completely different in chemical make-up.)
#2 HDPE "Milk Jugs": Most commonly milk and water jugs. Any translucent #2 plastic bottle with a threaded neck. (Beware of #7 or #5 plastic bottles - some ketchup and cleaner bottles -they are similar in appearance, but completely different in chemical make-up.)
#2 HDPE "Toxic Twos": All other #2 solid colored bottles with a threaded neck. Mostly detergent, shampoo, and other chemically based products. Please do not place tubs of any sort in this bin.
5 Gallon Buckets: Please rinse and remove the lids. Though not "recyclable", these buckets are very useful and are available to anyone who desires them.

Plastics We Do NOT Accept:
Tubs of any sort: If it does not have a threaded neck, or is not in the shape of a bottle, we can not accept it. This most commonly includes yogurt, margarine, ice cream, sour cream, and other such containers. Please consider reusing them as an alternative to immediately disposing of them.
Plastic Bags: Grocery, newspaper, and produce bags are not accepted. These can be returned to City Market, Wal-Mart, or Safeway to bins located near customer service at the front of each store.
Berry and Muffin Containers: Usually #1 plastic box-like containers that contain strawberries or baked goods, they are not recyclable.
Motor Oil Containers: Absolutely any plastic container that contained motor oil is not recyclable. Please dispose of them with your garbage.
Plastic Cups: Like tubs, they are not recyclable - no matter the number on the bottom.
Packaging Material: Bubble wrap and packing peanuts are not accepted. Please take them to Mail Boxes, Etc. for reuse - or store them and reuse them yourself.

A word about plastic recycling- Although in theory all plastic is recyclable, market forces, transportation costs and handling constraints often make recycling plastic prohibitively expensive. Summit Recycling Project accepts only what our markets and our facilities will allow. Recycling plastic is difficult in nature, particularly when collecting and storing it at this elevation. The presence of non-recyclable plastic and/or misplaced plastic in our bins threatens the quality and quantity of the plastics we do recycle. Please sort your plastics properly and help ensure that Summit Recycling Project can continue to produce a clean and high quality product. Thanks and keep recycling!

Contact SRP for a copy of The Summit County 2003 Green Pages-
Your guide to reducing, reusing, restoring, respecting, repairing, rebuilding, rethinking, rejoicing and recycling in your community!

Check out the Colorado Materials Exchange (COMEX) on the web at www.ucsu.colorado.edu/comex.

Contact the SRP Office - (970) 668-5703 or at recycle@colorado.net