NEW AMAZON PACKAGING IS NOT RECYCLABLE!!!!

I just received a package from Amazon. On the package, there was a recycling symbol printed in two places. Under each symbol was the following statement: “THIS NEW PACKAGE IS RECYCLABLE”.  The package was two layers of brown wrapping paper with a cushioned layer in between.  I was very excited to have a padded envelope that was recyclable until I cut the two layers to discover shredded Styrofoam was the padded layer.  UGH!

This packaging is NOT RECYCLABLE.  I checked with the manager of the Balcones recycling facility here in Austin. This is what he said, "The material is not recyclable in its current form. The mixed material of paper and foam makes the material incompatible with paper recycling. There isn’t a way to remove the two different types of material from each other."

This package can be reused for mailing but must be thrown in the trash cart (rather than the blue recycling cart) when it can no longer be used.

I reached out to Amazon’s CEO, Jeff Bezos, but have heard nothing yet. I use Amazon a lot and am very disappointed that they are promoting something as recyclable when it is not. It is especially frustrating with recycling contamination being such a huge issue.

Please pass the word.

RECYCLING UPDATE AND CURBSIDE COMPOST COLLECTION

RECYCLING IN AUSTIN CONTINUES TO GROW.  I AM SO PROUD OF SOME OF THE NEW INNOVATIONS.

TIRE RECYCLING

Tires can be taken to the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off center OR picked up curbside during bulk collection.  They are then taken to a facility where they are shredded by a giant tire shredder.  A strong magnet pulls the steel belts out of the tires and the shredded rubber is then recycled to build playgrounds, roads, and track and field surfaces.

CURBSIDE COMPOST COLLECTION EXPANDS

The week of September 23 is when 53,000 more families in Austin will have curbside compost collection.  This is very exciting news for many and some of you may be wondering, “what do I do with this new green bin”.  Here are some items to fill your new bin:

·      Sticks and leaves

·      Pizza boxes

·      Meat products

·      Dairy products

·      Paper products like paper towels, facial tissue, wax paper, butcher paper, parchment paper, and paper cupcake liners

·      Lint from the clothes dryer

·      Shredded paper

Please note that only compostable plastic bags can be used to collect food product that is placed in the bin. The plastic bag must be BPI-Certified Compostable.

If anyone has any questions about what can and cannot go into this bin, please ask.  I have been enjoying this service for two years now.  We put so little in our trash can now that we were able to go to the smallest trash can available.

RECYCLING CONFUSION

Even though I have been a recycling block leader for 27 years, there are still some areas I find confusing.  Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting with the CEO of the Balcones Recycling Facility (this is one of the two recycling sorting facilities in Austin).  He gave me some wonderful information I want to share with you.

Lids on plastic and glass bottles

Lids need to separated from GLASS bottles, even if they are small.  Magnets in the sorting facility pick up these metal lids. The plastic lids are easily separated out.

Lids on PLASTIC jars and bottles need to stay on the bottles – do not separate them.

Shredded paper

Shredded paper should not go into the blue recycling cart, not even in a separate paper bag.  This paper is difficult to contain and sort.  Please put shredded paper into the green compost collection bin.  It does not have to be bagged.

AS A GENERAL GUIDELINE, DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN YOUR BLUE BIN SMALLER THAN A CREDIT CARD (except for the lids mentioned above).

Please remember when it comes to recycling:

WHEN IN DOUBT – THROW IT OUT!