Let’s Talk Recycle!

By Marilyn Walther

It’s a New Year and time to look at how we’re recycling at St. Christopher’s Church.  Some of you may know that I’ve been your janitor for almost two years.  As part of the job, I empty the garbage and recycle containers in the kitchen.  It appears that we all need a little update on what IS and IS NOT recyclable with our curbside service.  Here is the list from Thurston County Solid Waste:A. Aluminum and tin cans¹B. NewspapersC. Paper bags²D. Magazines, catalogs and mail (windows, staples, and sticky notes ok)E. Cereal and food boxes²F. Phone booksG. Cardboard (flattened)²H. Plastic bottles, jugs & jars (Neck must be narrower than the base, no lids or caps) ¹ ³I. Dairy tubs & yogurt cups (not the lids or foil/plastic coverings) ¹J. Plastic buckets (no lids or handles) ¹K. Pots & pansL. Rigid plant pots (empty, no dirt)M. Paperback booksN. Glass is recyclable, BUT glass jars and bottles MUST be rinsed and in a separate bin.

1 – Must be rinsed, clean.

2 – Must not be food-soiled.

3 – No hazardous waste containers

All of us who use Pacific Disposal, Butler’s Cove, or Rural Refuse, will get a newsletter from Thurston County Solid Waste, “Talkin’ Trash”, which usually has a picture and explanation of what is recyclable curbside.  We can also go to www.co.thurston.wa.us.solidwaste to find out what goes in the recycle bin for curbside pick-up.  I will put the visual of the above items up in the kitchen as well.

Regarding plastic recyclables, just because a plastic item has the 3-arrow recycle symbol with a number on it does NOT mean that we can recycle it in our area, curbside.  You can, however, take more items to the Waste and Recovery Center to be recycled, for free, including electronics.  You’ll find this list on the above website.

Some of you may know that as of last summer, we are now paying to have our recyclables taken, where as prior to that, we got a small refund for our recyclables.  As a whole, nationwide, our recyclables were not clean and free of garbage – anything from plastic wrap to food-contaminated paper and cardboard.

Please remember that if an unrinsed soda can is thrown in the recycle, and it contains some soda, it can potentially contaminate most, if not all of the recyclables, rendering it all garbage!  A paper plate that has cake icing,food, or even oil stains on it is NOT recyclable.  If you have a Yard Waste bin at your home, it can be thrown in there, as long as it is not plastic-coated, but NOT in the recycle bin.  Recyclables are to be clean and free of food and other contaminates!

Thank you for reading!  With good, clean recycling, we honor God’s Creation!