Here’s what to know about recycling plastics in Centre County

We have received a lot of calls and emails recently with questions on recycling plastics. A few of the most asked are listed below.

Q: Where can I recycle plastic bags?

A: Plastics in the form of bags, plastic wrap and plastic film can be recycled at many of our local grocery stores and retailers as long as they are clean and dry and stretch. Many of our local stores have collection bins for plastic bags, film and wrap at their entrance ways. Just place your acceptable plastic in the correct bin to be recycled. A good resource for plastic bag recycling can be found at www.abagslife.com. Here you will find a list of acceptable plastic that can be recycled at our local stores including newspaper bags, dry cleaning bags, bread bags, veggie bags, product wrap, etc. Don’t treat your plastic bags, wrap and film like trash — recycle them!

Q: My plastic cup has the recycling symbol on it, so why can’t I recycle it?

A: If you look at many plastic items, you will inevitably see the recycling arrows with a number in the middle. A common misconception is that if a plastic item has the recycling arrows, it CAN be recycled; that is only somewhat true. Many items with the recycling arrows can be recycled, yet, many cannot. The recycling arrows/number on plastic is put there to show what type of polymers make up that particular plastic, not exclusively to say it is recyclable. A good tip in our Centre County Recycling Program for recycling plastics is: if you have a plastic item that is a bottle, jug or jar, regardless of the recycling arrows and number, that bottle, jug or jar can be recycled.

All plastic bottles, jugs and jars can be recycled either curbside, at one of our many recycling drop-off containers across the county, at special events in the bins labeled for plastic bottles, jugs and jars or in any recycling bin or container in Centre County labeled for plastic bottles, jugs and jars. Recycling the correct commodities helps to keep our program running efficient and cost effective. Visit www.centrecountyrecycles.org for more information on recycling plastic.

Q: Can I recycle yogurt containers, butter containers, food containers and other miscellaneous plastic containers?

A: Yes. While these plastics CANNOT be included with your curbside recyclables, we do offer six drop-off locations to recycle miscellaneous plastics. Please visit our website for a list of locations and acceptable miscellaneous plastics.

Q: Can I recycle pill bottles?

A: Yes, and as a matter of fact, as mentioned above, a pill bottle is a bottle, and in turn can be recycled in our program. Empty pill bottles can be recycled curbside or in any drop-off recycling container labeled for plastic bottles, jugs and jars.

I hope this column helps to answer some of your questions about recycling plastics. We really do try to recycle as much as we can in Centre County, but in the end, the items that we can accept are dictated by what we can sell to our end markets. Thank you for your understanding and thank you for recycling!