What constitutes a Commingled recyclable?

February 3, 2008 2:13 PM

Commingled recyclables: What are they?

I'm trying to get into recycling (I've read previous posts about pros/cons of recycling so lets skip that argument), and my apartment complex has two bins: "Paper" and "Commingles recyclables." While the paper bin seems obvious enough, what's the deal with commingled? Can I just throw anything in there and it'll hypothetically get recycled? Or does my stuff need to have one of those recycling symbols on it?
I've never really recycled before so I'm not even sure what can and cannot be recycled.

posted by jmd82 to science & nature (8 comments total)

You'll have to look it up on the appropriate government website (city, probably). You can't just throw anything in there, but no one here will be able to tell you exactly what is and isn't acceptable without knowing were you live (and your lat/long points to Mongolia and when flipped points somewhere with no apartment buildings).
posted by ssg at 2:20 PM on February 3

Well, there's not a universal definition for "recyclables." Some towns recycle more than others.

It's generally safe to put all aluminum (soda cans), steel (soup, dog/cat food cans), and glass containers in there. Metals and glass are worth semi-serious money so they're almost always recycled. #1 plastic (milk bottles) and clear soda-bottle plastic (if you're a non-deposit state) are also frequently recycled, since they are cost-effective also.

Where things get dicey are in the higher-numbered plastics, especially #5, which is mostly semi-flexible yogurt containers and the like. I've heard various arguments as to whether it's cost-effective to recycle that stuff, so it seems to only happen in areas where the municipality subsidizes it heavily.

I've no idea how they go about sorting the different types of plastic at the recycling facilities, so I'm not sure whether putting a single piece of nonrecyclable plastic into the container is going to mess things up or not. But at the very least I'd say you can put all your steel/glass and #1 and #2 plastic in there and be safe.

If you want an absolute answer you're going to have to contact someone at your town/city's solid waste office, or the contractor that handles recycling.
posted by Kadin2048 at 2:21 PM on February 3

I don't think there's a standard for this. Different local authorities collect slightly different sets of things in their 'comingled' collection, so you'll need to ask (at least in my experience in the UK). It's unlikely that you can just throw anything in there; there are usually rules.
posted by chrismear at 2:21 PM on February 3

Also: The number (#5 and so on) of the plastic or glass will appear inside the little recycling triangle symbol, usually on the base of the container.
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:24 PM on February 3

ssg: Flipping the second number puts the OP in what looks like a very rural area, but it's just a little bit outside Minneapolis.
posted by fogster at 2:42 PM on February 3

Definitely check. Mine for instance won't take glass (UK as it happens, and like chrismear I've lived in places where that was taken so areas aren't consistent). In addition, I share a sizeable bin with other people, and if any of us puts in even a relatively small amount of waste that shouldn't be there they'll chuck the lot rather than sort it. So it's best to get it right from the start.
posted by edd at 3:36 PM on February 3

I didn't know individual cities had their own recycling laws. After reading the responses, I looked on my city's website and found a webpage about Garbage and Recycling, which I think pretty well answers my inquiry.

and your lat/long points to Mongolia and when flipped points somewhere with no apartment buildings

Oops. I definitely don't live in Mongolia!
I actually live in Mankato, which is about 50,000 people...rural to a city boy like me though!
posted by jmd82 at 5:02 PM on February 3

My 10 year old grandson figured this all out, both for his town and mine. He's on a first-name basis with both dump-masters. But he's an awesome, precocious kid.

Some of the more affluent ruburbs in SE Mass let you dump every thing you think is re-cycable in one bin. They have (apparently) mentally-challenged people that sort it out. Re-cycling to a new level.

So how difficult can it be for the rest of us.?
posted by lemuel at 3:36 PM on February 5