It’s the shape of a plastic item, not the number printed on its bottom, that determines whether it can be recycled in a Franklin County recycling drop-box, according to a recent column in ThisWeek Community News by Ty Marsh, executive director of the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio.
If the bottom of a plastic item is bigger than its top, it can be recycled through SWACO. So things like water bottles, milk jugs, and even shampoo bottles make the cut. However, if the top is wider than the base (i.e., it’s shaped like a cup), it can’t go in a SWACO recycling drop-box.
"Recycling plastics requires a little more attention than glass, paper, cardboard, cartons and aluminum cans," Mr. Marsh writes, "but it can be done."
"It’s worth the extra effort in order to divert waste from the landfill and protect our environment."
Minimizing the presence of non-recyclable items in SWACO recycling drop-boxes is a necessary step toward boosting Franklin County’s diversion rate – the percentage of county waste that avoids the landfill – to 75% by 2032. As of last July, the county's diversion rate was 49%, per Mr. Marsh.
To that end, RecycleRight.org, a SWACO initiative, makes it easy to sort what can go in the recycling bin from things that belong in a compost pile or trash can.
The centerpiece of the site is the Recycle & Reuse Search Tool, a visual menu of different refuse categories – household items, yard waste and organics, household hazardous waste, trash, and other items – that guides visitors through how to recycle everything from glass bottles and magazines to weeds, propane tanks, smoke detectors, and motor oil. Clicking on an item reveals safe disposal tips and the option to look up nearby disposal locations.
One tip that's always in vogue: Do not mix plastic bags in with your recycling or dispose of your recycling in plastic bags.
"Often recycling centers’ multimillion-dollar processing machines have to shut down every half-hour because the plastic bags get jammed into the equipment," Mitch Hedlund of Recycle Across America told The Guardian last year.
So be a good neighbor and bring those plastic bags to the grocery store instead.
Curbside recycling in The Glen is provided by Rumpke. You should consult Rumpke for guidelines on what types of items they do and do not accept for recycling. You can also call 1 (800) 828-8171.
An interactive map of SWACO’s drop-box recycling locations is available through Recycle Right. The nearest SWACO recycling drop-box to The Glen is located at Columbus Fire Station 30 on Fishinger Boulevard.
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