Eugene has made changes to what it accepts in your recycling bin. The changes, effective Monday (April 9, 2018) are in response to fluctuations in the international market for plastics.
China has raised their standards for what they’ll accept from the West coast. Michael Wisth is Waste Prevention and Building Analyst with the City of Eugene.
“Particularly with plastics, these materials that we put in our co-mingle that really have no place to go right now. The cost to process them has gone up to make them cleaner and to sort out the recyclables from the non-recyclables. And the market’s depressed. So you have increased cost with lower market for these materials.”
Wisth says for years people have been putting things in recycling bins that are not really acceptable. Now, the city will no longer take plastic tubs, any plastics with the number 3 through 7, or aseptic containers, like those for milk and orange juice.
These changes are for recycling within the City of Eugene.
You can find out more at eugenerecycles.org.
Items that are no longer accepted in our recycling stream:
Plastic tubs will no longer be accepted in our recycling.
Plastic items numbered #3 through #7 are no longer allowed.
Aseptic containers, previously allowed by some haulers, will no longer be accepted. This includes paper cartons, such as for milk and orange juice.
Shredded paper is no longer allowed.
Other items of frequent contamination that are still not allowed include:
Plastic bags and plastic films of all kinds
Rigid plastics, such as take-out food containers and berry clamshells
Lids, such as from bottles, jars, and metal cans
Soiled cardboard and paper
Flower pots
Acceptable items to recycle:
Paper:
Newspaper, including ads and inserts
Corrugated cardboard boxes
Direct mail
Cereal, cracker & shoe boxes (chipboard)
Office paper—copier and printer paper, file folders, note paper, computer paper, brochures
Magazines & catalogs
Paperboard/cardboard egg-cartons
Metal:
Steel (tin) cans
Aluminum cans
Clean foil balls, fist-sized or larger
Plastic:
Only the following plastic bottles and jugs: #1 PET & #2 HDPE soda bottles, water bottles, milk jugs, orange juice bottles & jugs
When Changes Go Into Effect: Haulers will begin educating customers and implementing the new changes starting April 9th.
Where: This change affects residents in the City of Eugene.
