Here’s what to know about recycling medication bottles, black plastic in Centre County
One of my responsibilities as the education coordinator for the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority is to manage our social media accounts. I post on social media daily with recycling tips, recycling news and updates as well as fun facts. I also recognize employees’ birthdays and work anniversaries. I try to keep our social pages light and entertaining so residents will stop on our page for a gander while they are scrolling throughout the day.
A while back I had asked residents to post questions that I would answer on our social media pages. This way, I could answer a question and many would be able to see the answer. And while I realize that many are on social media, I also know that many are not and would never see the posts I make daily.
I wanted to take some time this month to answer a few of the questions that have been posted recently on our pages for my non-social media column readers to see. I hope you find the answers to the questions below helpful!
Q: Are pill bottles/medication bottles recyclable?
A: The answer is yes! We accept all plastic bottles regardless of the number on the bottom of the bottle. So, pill/medication bottles may be placed either curbside or at any of our recycling drop off locations in the plastic compartment.
Q: Does CCRRA have options for recycling ceramics?
A: No, we do not have any options to recycle ceramics. We actually ask that you do not place ceramics in any of our recycling bins as they are a contaminant in the recycling stream.
Q: Why can’t black plastic be recycled?
A: Black plastic is no longer being accepted by recycling companies due to the fact that the black pigment makes it very hard to recycle. Black plastic is considered a contaminant in most recycling markets, including ours, and must be hand sorted out from our plastic stream before we bale our plastics to sell to recycling companies. That is why we cannot accept black plastic. No one will buy it from us.
Q: How do I properly dispose of needles/sharps?
A: You can help prevent injury, illness and pollution by following some simple steps when disposing of these wastes in your household trash. Place all sharps in a puncture-resistant, hard plastic or metal container. An empty detergent bottle with a screw-on cap or an empty coffee can will do. Close the container with its original lid and secure with heavy duty tape. Place the tightly sealed container in a paper bag, label with “needles/sharps” and discard it with your household trash (do not place it with your recyclables). Place non-sharp home health care medical wastes in a doubled, securely fastened, opaque plastic trash bag before putting them in your garbage can with other wastes.
I hope this month’s column helped to answer some of the questions that you may have had. I hope you all stay safe, healthy and happy this fall! Thanks for recycling!
This story was originally published September 19, 2020 at 10:00 AM.