Recycling Questions Answered

OK, so I think I've established the fact that I am a pretty dedicated recycler. However, there have been a few things that I have wondered about. (Like whether or not Schnuck's recycles all plastic bags or just grocery bags.) In wondering about things out loud to other people, I have learned that they too have questions.

So, I called Andy Ashford in the City's Solid Waste Department and had all of these recycling questions answered. I'm sharing what I learned here:

Q: Can I recycle plastics with numbers other than 1 or 2?
A: No, but there is a possibility that the City will start recycling other plastics in the near future.

Q: What happens if I put something in the recycle bin that isn't recyclable. Am I contaminating the whole truck?
A: Ideally unacceptable items will be left in the bin, but if not, they are sorted out as "residue" at the collection facility. Residue accounts for about 1% of all the materials collected. The residue is baled and taken to the landfill.

Q: The solid waste website says to take the tops off of bottles. What happens if the tops stay on? Are they sorted out?
A: The City prefers if the tops are removed because then the bottles can be crushed, which allows for more bottles to be put in each bale, however failing to take the tops off does not mean that they cannot be recycled.

Q: What about jar lids? Do they need to come off?
A: It makes no difference with glass. All glass is sorted by color and crushed. Metallic lids can be removed by machine.

Q: What about paper? Does it have to be separated?
A: It is preferred that paper be in a paper bag separate from other recyclables. Paper in plastic bags is highly discouraged. If you do not have a paper bag, then put the paper in a stack next to the other recyclables in the bin.

Q: Are people really cutting their cardboard boxes down to size? What happens if they don't?
A: Ideally the uncut boxes will remain in the recycle bin (or next to it). There are cases where the garbage trucks have picked up the uncut boxes and cases where the recycling collectors have placed uncut boxes in the green can, both of which are not policy and should be reported. If you want to recycle your cardboard, you must cut it to size.

Q: Which item is the most valuable?
A: The collected items are sold to various places and their value fluctuates, but paper is by far the most valuable. White paper, magazines, junkmail, newspaper...all paper is valuable!

Q: What is the one thing that people can do to improve pick-up?
A: Make sure their recycling bin is easy to see.(i.e. Do not obscure it behind shrubs or the green can.)

Q: Anything else?
A: Consistently follow the rules.

Q: What is the recycling rate in Memphis? How are we doing?
A: About 38% of households participate on a weekly basis, 50% every other week, and 72% once a month.

Q: Are there certain areas that have a higher participation rate?
A: There are five service areas and from highest participation to lowest, they are: Scott Street Area (East Parkway to Humphreys), Cordova, Democrat Area (Southeast Memphis), North Area (Frayser), and Southwest Memphis.

Q: Do you offer tours of the collection facility?
A: Yes and no. City Council has requested a tour next month (for the first time ever), but normally tours are discouraged. Due to the crushing of glass, operations must be shut down in order to allow visitors in. Additionally, the facility only sorts, packages, and ships items so there isn't any actual "recycling" to witness.

So there you have it. I hope you found this helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions and I will be glad to call Mr. Ashford back!