October News from Howard County Recycling

Where Does it Go?

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) plastic containers are typically clear tubs and bottles used for soft drinks, water, peanut butter & salad dressing. Once these items are collected from the curb, they are sent to Waste Management Recycle America in Elkridge, where plastics are separated from other recyclable materials. From Elkridge, the plastic items are sent to a Clear Path facility in Fayetteville, NC. In this facility, screens separate out the PET containers and sort them by color (clear and green). After the PET is separated by color, the plastic bottles and tubs are shredded into small chips. The chips are washed several times to clean and remove labels and get rid of other non-acceptable items. Finally, the chips are shredded again into a fine material (a few millimeters in size) and then shipped to Shaw Industries in Georgia to be made into carpet.

Paper Shredding Events

Saturday, October 12, at the Gary Arthur Community Center (2400 State Route 97, Cooksville, MD 21723) from 9am to 1pm (or until trucks are full). Saturday, October 19 , at the Long Gate Park & Ride (5000 Meadowbrook Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21043) from 9am to 1pm (or until trucks are full). These events will be held rain or shine . Howard County residents may bring up to 3 bags or boxes of paper to be shredded. Please only bring items that contain personal information. Junk mail, catalogs and office paper can be recycled in your curbside recycling bin.

What's New at the Schools?

Due to recent recycling industry restrictions on plastic bags, the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) decided to stop collecting recyclables in their cafeterias. We are very disappointed in this decision. Good recycling habits are learned through education, repetition and by example. Let's bring recycling back to our school cafeterias. The school system change of policy began September 3, 2019. If you have questions or concerns, please contact HCPSS directly at 410-313-6600.

Columbus Day Schedule

There will be REGULAR curbside collection of recycling, yard trim, food scraps and trash on Monday, October 14th. The Alpha Ridge Landfill will be OPEN from 8am to 4pm. County offices will be CLOSED .

Collection crews will not collect your recycling if it's in plastic bags or if they see any type of plastic bags/film in your recycling.  Plastic bags and film should be taken to your local retail or grocery store. Here is a  map of plastic bag/film recycling locations  and here is what they accept .   Watch our No Plastic Bags video

Not sure what to do with an item? Click here

Howard County Recycling 9801 Broken Land Parkway Columbia, MD 21046 Open Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm

Alpha Ridge Landfill 2350 Marriottsville Road Marriottsville, MD 21104  Open Monday-Saturday, 8am to 4pm

(410) 313-6444 help@HowardCountyRecycles.org HowardCountyRecycles.org

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