Recycling: The Basics
Send a postcard when you get there – The final destination for our recyclables could be almost anywhere.
by Sheila Helmberger
Have you ever wondered what magical things happen to those milk cartons and soda cans you toss in the neighborhood recycling bin? Before new life is breathed into most of those items they will travel on to centrally located recycling centers, and from there, on to destinations even farther away. When you take that final sip of soda – chances are that can will put on more miles in the next few weeks than you will.
Marlen Harris is the manager of the Cass County recycling center in Pine River. The center handles mostly residential recycling from area haulers. He said his center hasn’t changed over to a single-sort method yet so when all of that recycling comes in it is sorted out by workers by hand. A large magnet will pick out the metal as the items move down a conveyor belt, and the rest is sorted the old fashioned way.
“We separate the plastics, the number 1’s and number 2’s,” he said, “and then other items like brown and clear glass.” Harris said residents still throw away a few things here and there that are not recyclable so those things get sorted out of the mix too. “Overall though,” he said, “people are doing a pretty good job of it.”
After that?
Once everything is all separated, like materials are put together and prepared for easy transit. “Most of it is baled,” he said, “The cardboard gets baled and goes on to cities. There’s a place we send it to in St. Paul, and one in Becker. Most of our regular paper goes to Moorhead – some of that will be used in fire retardant insulation.”
Those numbers on the recycling logo identify the type of plastic an item is made from. Number one plastics are items like pop and juice bottles; number two are detergent bottles and milk cartons; number threes, Harris said, belongs to things like saran wrap, which are not recyclable; number four plastics are plexi-glass type items which are also non-recyclable; and number five plastics are the items made from heavier plastics like five gallon pails.
Harris said his center continues to see increases on residential recycling, which is mostly what they receive. “They’ve gone up every year pretty much. This year’s numbers are going up already too. The trash rates are down and the recycling is up.”
The newest item that’s been added to our local recycling programs in the last couple of years is electronics. Harris said from his center most of the electronic items are shipped on to Janesville, Wis. Workers there will strip them down and the various parts will be sold. Many are even shipped overseas he said.
Just because we can’t throw some items in those recycling bins doesn’t mean they can’t be reused. Old eyeglasses can find a new home through a local Lions Club. Old cell phones can be recycled through most providers. Bins at retailers often offer an option to return those plastic shopping bags and ink cartridges can be taken back to most supply stores.
Every year we become a little more mindful of the amount of garbage we create and a little more savvy at ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. If you’re not sure if a specific item is recyclable check with your local landfill.
Related stories:
Recycling Part 2: County by County
Recycling Part 3: The Business of Recycling
by Sheila Helmberger
Have you ever wondered what magical things happen to those milk cartons and soda cans you toss in the neighborhood recycling bin? Before new life is breathed into most of those items they will travel on to centrally located recycling centers, and from there, on to destinations even farther away. When you take that final sip of soda – chances are that can will put on more miles in the next few weeks than you will.
Marlen Harris is the manager of the Cass County recycling center in Pine River. The center handles mostly residential recycling from area haulers. He said his center hasn’t changed over to a single-sort method yet so when all of that recycling comes in it is sorted out by workers by hand. A large magnet will pick out the metal as the items move down a conveyor belt, and the rest is sorted the old fashioned way.
“We separate the plastics, the number 1’s and number 2’s,” he said, “and then other items like brown and clear glass.” Harris said residents still throw away a few things here and there that are not recyclable so those things get sorted out of the mix too. “Overall though,” he said, “people are doing a pretty good job of it.”
After that?
Once everything is all separated, like materials are put together and prepared for easy transit. “Most of it is baled,” he said, “The cardboard gets baled and goes on to cities. There’s a place we send it to in St. Paul, and one in Becker. Most of our regular paper goes to Moorhead – some of that will be used in fire retardant insulation.”
Those numbers on the recycling logo identify the type of plastic an item is made from. Number one plastics are items like pop and juice bottles; number two are detergent bottles and milk cartons; number threes, Harris said, belongs to things like saran wrap, which are not recyclable; number four plastics are plexi-glass type items which are also non-recyclable; and number five plastics are the items made from heavier plastics like five gallon pails.
Harris said his center continues to see increases on residential recycling, which is mostly what they receive. “They’ve gone up every year pretty much. This year’s numbers are going up already too. The trash rates are down and the recycling is up.”The newest item that’s been added to our local recycling programs in the last couple of years is electronics. Harris said from his center most of the electronic items are shipped on to Janesville, Wis. Workers there will strip them down and the various parts will be sold. Many are even shipped overseas he said.
Just because we can’t throw some items in those recycling bins doesn’t mean they can’t be reused. Old eyeglasses can find a new home through a local Lions Club. Old cell phones can be recycled through most providers. Bins at retailers often offer an option to return those plastic shopping bags and ink cartridges can be taken back to most supply stores.
Every year we become a little more mindful of the amount of garbage we create and a little more savvy at ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. If you’re not sure if a specific item is recyclable check with your local landfill.
Related stories:
Recycling Part 2: County by County
Recycling Part 3: The Business of Recycling
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