Those who take their plastic recycling to the Columbus/Bartholomew Recycling Center will have to become more selective on what they bring.
The center, at 720 S. Mapleton St., is significantly limiting the types of plastics it will accept, according to the Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District.
Plastic items no longer being accepted should have a recycling triangle on the bottom with the numbers 3,4,5,6 or 7, district education coordinator Jessica Norcross said.
Generally speaking, the plastics no longer being accepted are:
- Cooking oil and shampoo bottles
- Cleaner spray bottles
- Squeezable condiment bottles
- Plastic films or shrink wrap
- Grocery, bread, frozen food and produce bags
- Syrup, ketchup and medicine bottles
- Packing peanuts, egg cartons, take-out containers, disposable plates, party cups and cutlery
Up until now, district vendors accepted most types of these household plastic items because they could find a market for them, Norcross said.
“But it has gotten to the point that none of our vendors are taking (these types of plastics), because there is no market for them,” Norcross said. “I hope it’s a temporary problem, but I really have no idea what the market is going to do.”
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
