By Nancy Gibson, education coordinator, Solid Waste District of LaPorte County
Many times each week, sometimes several times a day, someone calls the LaPorte County Solid Waste District office and asks the question, “Can I recycle plastic bottle caps”? In the past, taking our direction from the recycler, the answer was, unfortunately, no. But that has changed. Now, feel free to throw those plastic caps in your recycling toter!
There were two reasons why plastic caps were not accepted before. One: The material the caps are made from is usually different from that of the bottle. Different materials have different number codes, and workers at the recycling center have to separate the materials on the conveyor belt by their number code. The workers have to rapidly pick items from the line. Therefore, it was next to impossible for them to twist and separate the caps from the bottles while working on the line.
Two: As small as most bottle caps are, if separated from the bottle, they hardly ever made it to Homewood, IL, without being lost in transit. Imagine if you can a cap the size on a 16-oz. soda bottle, being loaded on a semi for the ride to Homewood and not getting lost. They say miracles do happen, but I don’t think so if you are a little, loose bottle cap going from LaPorte County to Homewood Disposal and Diversified Recycling! Also, small, loose items used to get stuck and clog up the conveyor belts. So the only answer was to say no to diligent recyclers who wanted to recycle the bottle caps.
New recycling techniques allow plastic bottle caps to be recyclable.
But that has changed. The lowly bottle cap can now be recycled along with the bottle. With new and advanced recycling processes in place, recyclers can now expand the lists of items they will accept. One of the new processes involves a machine that slits a plastic bottle, allowing air to escape so it won’t explode when being baled. Once the plastic material is sorted, marketed and shipped to a recycler, the cap and bottle can be separated and used to re-make articles from the different plastics.
So the next time you finish that water or soda and are rinsing the bottle to put it in your recycling toter, don’t forget to replace the cap and give it a new home! Better yet, try reducing the number of plastic bottles you purchase and use at your next party or picnic. Try buying your soda in larger 2-liter bottles and using glasses than can be washed and reused. It will save you money when purchasing the soda and reduce waste because you will not find abandoned, half-full cans when everyone has gone home.
Have a lot of water drinkers invited? Next time, try filling a pitcher using tap water and adding your own lemon slices for a fresh taste and a classy host/hostess touch.
LEARN MORE about recycling and the Solid Waste District’s work at www.solidwastedistrict.com.
