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Frequently
Asked Questions
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1. |
Does
the Authority recycle? |
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2. |
What happens to my
recyclables once they leave the curb? |
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3. |
What kinds of products
are made out of my recyclable materials? |
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4. |
All plastic containers
have a recycle symbol on them. Why aren't they all put in the recycle bin? |
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5. |
What are my options
for getting rid of yard waste? |
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6. |
Why aren't magazines,
cereal boxes and "junk" mail recycled along with newspapers? |
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7. |
Does everyone in
Lancaster County need to recycle? |
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8. |
Why do I have to
pay to recycle? Should I be paid for my materials? |
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1. |
Does the Authority recycle? |
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The Authority
does provide drop-off services to residents of Lancaster County at the
Transfer Station, Resource Recovery Facility and Frey Farm Landfill. Residents
may put #1 (PETE) and #2 (HDPE) plastic bottles, aluminum cans, glass
jars and bottles, and steel/tin cans in the containers at their convenience.
In addition, the ash from the
Resource Recovery Facility passes by a magnet to recover steel. In 2004,
the LCSWMA recycled 6,420 tons of steel taken from the ash.
Additionally, the Authority
accepts for recycling: white goods (large appliances), tires, yard waste,
batteries, computers and fluorescent lamps.
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2. |
What happens to my recyclables once they leave the
curb? |
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Recyclables put
out at curbside in your recycling bin and those delivered to drop-off
locations are taken to privately owned processors for sorting into their
various components and to remove contaminants.
After sorting, the various materials
are normally compacted or baled and transported to a market to be used
as raw material for manufacturing other products. Most of the organic
materials go to private and municipal compost sites to make mulch and
compost, which are beneficial to the soil and the environment.
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3. |
What kinds of products are made out of my recyclable
materials? |
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Cardboard, office
paper and newspaper are used to make new boxes, tissue products, greeting
cards and newspapers
Glass bottles and jars can become
new bottles and jars, glass tiles or fiberglass insulation.
#1 (PETE) plastic can be used
to make fleece jackets, carpet, shower curtains and fiberfill for stuffed
animals.
#2 (HDPE) plastic is used for
making new bottles, toys and lumber for decks, benches and fences.
Aluminum cans are used to make
more aluminum cans and other products like siding, window frames, car
parts or even airplanes.
Steel/tin cans are used to make
more steel.
Tires can become flooring, gym
mats and athletic tracks.
Leaves, fruits and vegetables
are used to make compost to help grow new gardens.
These are just a few examples
of the uses of recycled materials. As technologies are developed, more
uses and products emerge. Many products we use everyday contain recycled
materials. Recycled products have been around for generations.
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4. |
All plastic containers have a recycle symbol on them.
Why aren't they all recycled? |
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The number inside
the chasing arrows recycling symbol found on plastic containers identifies
the type of resin used to make the container. They majority of plastics
are labeled with a #1 (polyethylene terephthalate - PET) and #2 (high-density
polyethylene - HDPE). Of these, the most prevalent are bottles, jars and
jugs that have available and steady markets. The quantities generated
and market demand are not strong enough to justify collection of the other
types of plastics. In Lancaster County, the non-recyclable plastics are
processed as trash at the Resource Recovery Facility where electricity
is generated.
The table below from the American
Chemistry Council identifies the various types of plastic. You too can
identify types of plastic by locating the coding imprint on either the
bottom or the side of the container. The recycling triangle with a number
in the center is the imprint to locate.
Full Name |
Description |
Properties |
Product Applications |
Products Made with Recycled Content |
Resin
Code |
PET
or PETE
Polyethylene
terephthalate |
PET is clear, tough, and has good gas and moisture
barrier properties. This resin is commonly used in beverage bottles
and many injection-molded consumer product containers. Cleaned, recycled
PET flakes and pellets are in great demand for spinning fiber for
carpet yarns, producing fiberfill and geotextiles. Nickname: Polyester |
Clear
and optically smooth surfaces for oriented films and bottles.
Excellent
barrier to oxygen, water, and carbon dioxide.
High
impact capability and shatter resistance.
Excellent
resistance to most solvents.
Capability
for hot-filling. |
Plastic
bottles for soft drinks, water, juice, sports drinks, beer, mouthwash,
catsup and salad dressing.
Food jars
for peanut butter, jelly, jam and pickles.
Ovenable
film and microwaveable food trays.
In addition
to packaging, PET's major uses are textile, monofilament, carpet,
strapping, films, and engineering moldings. |
Fiber
for carpet, fleece jackets, comforter fill, and tote bags.
Containers
for food, beverages (bottles), and non-food items.
Film and
sheet.
Strapping. |
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HDPE
High density
polyethylene |
HDPE is used to make many types of bottles. Unpigmented
bottles are translucent, have good barrier properties and stiffness,
and are well suited to packaging products with a short shelf life
such as milk. Because HDPE has good chemical resistance, it is used
for packaging many household and industrial chemicals such as detergents
and bleach. Pigmented HDPE bottles have better stress crack resistance
than unpigmented HDPE. |
Excellent
resistance to most solvents.
Higher
tensile strength compared to other forms of polyethylene.
Relatively
stiff material with useful temperature capabilities. |
Bottles
for milk, water, juice, cosmetics, shampoo, dish and laundry detergents,
and household cleaners.
Bags for
groceries and retail purchases.
Cereal
box liners.
Reusable
shipping containers.
In addition
to packaging, HDPE's major uses are in injection molding applications,
extruded pipe and conduit, plastic wood composites, and wire and
cable covering. |
Bottles
for non-food items, such as shampoo, conditioner, liquid laundry
detergent, household cleaners, motor oil and antifreeze.
Plastic
lumber for outdoor decking, fencing and picnic tables.
Pipe, floor
tiles, buckets, crates, flower pots, garden edging, film and sheet,
and recycling bins. |
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PVC
or Vinyl
Polyvinyl
chloride |
In addition to its stable physical properties, PVC
has good chemical resistance, weatherability, flow characteristics
and stable electrical properties. The diverse slate of vinyl products
can be broadly divided into rigid and flexible materials. |
High impact
strength, brilliant clarity, excellent processing performance
Resistance
to grease, oil and chemicals |
Rigid
packaging applications include blister packs and clamshells.
Flexible
packaging uses incude bags for bedding and medical, shrink wrap,
deli and meat wrap and tamper resistance.
In addition
to packaging, PVC's major uses are rigid applications such as pipe,
siding, window frames, fencing, decking and railing. Flexible applications
include medical products such as blood bags and medical tubing,
wire and cable insulation, carpet backing, and flooring. |
Pipe,
decking, fencing, paneling, gutters, carpet backing, floor tiles
and mats, resilient flooring, mud flaps, cassette trays, electrical
boxes, cables, traffic cones, garden hose, and mobile home skirting.
Packaging,
film and sheet, and loose-leaf binders. |
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LDPE
Low density
polyethylene |
LDPE is
used predominately in film applications due to its toughness, flexibility
and relative transparency, making it popular for use in applications
where heat sealing is necessary. LDPE also is used to manufacture
some flexible lids and bottles as well as in wire and cable applications.
Includes
Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) |
Excellent
resistance to acids, bases and vegetable oils
Toughness,
flexibility and relative transparency (good combination of properties
for packaging applications requiring heat-sealing.) |
Bags for
dry cleaning, newspapers, bread, frozen foods, fresh produce, and
household garbage.
Shrink
wrap and stretch film.
Coatings
for paper milk cartons and hot and cold beverage cups.
Container
lids.
Toys.
Squeezable
bottles (e.g., honey and mustard).
In addition
to packaging, LDPE's major uses are in injection molding applications,
adhesives and sealants, and wire and cable coverings. |
Shipping envelopes, garbage can liners, floor tile,
paneling, furniture, film and sheet, compost bins, trash cans, landscape
timber, and outdoor lumber. |
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PP
Polypropylene |
PP has good chemical resistance, is strong, and has
a melting point making it good for hot-fill liquids. This resin is
found in flexible and rigid packaging, fibers, and large molded parts
for automotive and consumer products. |
Excellent
optical clarity in biaxially oriented films and stretch blow molded
containers.
Low moisture
vapor transmission.
Inertness
toward acids, alkalis and most solvents. |
Containers
for yogurt, margarine, takeout meals, and deli foods.
Medicine
bottles.
Bottle
caps and closures.
Bottles
for catsup and syrup.
In addition
to packaging, PP's major uses are in fibers, appliances and consumer
products, including durable applications such as automotive and
carpeting. |
Automotive
applications, such as battery cases, signal lights, battery cables,
brooms and brushes, ice scrapers, oil funnels, and bicycle racks.
Garden
rakes, storage bins, shipping pallets, sheeting, trays. |
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PS
Polystyrene |
PS is
a versatile plastic than can be rigid or foamed. General purpose
polystyrene is clear, hard and brittle. It has a relatively low
melting point. Typical applications include protective packaging,
foodservice packaging, bottles, and food containers.
PS is often
combined with rubber to make high impact polystyrene (HIPS) which
is used for packaging and durable applications requiring toughness,
but not clarity. |
Excellent
moisture barrier for short shelf life products
Excellent
optical clarity for general purpose form
Significant
stiffness in both foamed and rigid forms.
Low density
and stiffness in foamed applications
Low thermal
conductivity and excellent insulation properties in foamed form |
Food service
items, such as cups, plates, bowls, cutlery, hinged takeout containers
(clamshells), meat and poultry trays, and rigid food containers
(e.g., yogurt). These items may be made with foamed or non-foamed
PS.
Protective
foam packaging for furniture, electronics and other delicate items.
Packing
peanuts, known as "loose fill".
Compact
disc cases and aspirin bottles.
In addition
to packaging, PS's major uses are in agricultural trays, electronic
housings, cable spools, building insulation, video cassette cartridges,
coat hangers, medical products and toys.
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Thermal
insulation, thermometers, light switch plates, vents, desk trays,
rules, and license plate frames.
Cameras
or video cassette casings.
Foamed
foodservice applications, such as egg shell cartons.
Plastic
mouldings (i.e., wood replacement products).
Expandable
polystyrene (EPS) foam protective packaging. |
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| Other |
Use of this code indicates that a package is made
with resin other than the six listed above, or is made of more than
one resin and used in a multi-layer combination. |
Dependent on resin or combination of resins |
Three-
and five-gallon reusable water bottles, some citrus juice and catsup
bottles.
Oven-baking
bags, barrier layers, and custome packaging. |
Bottles and plastic lumber applications. |
|
American Chemistry
Council, Plastics Division, Last Updated: March 2007
americanchemistry.com
1300 Wilson Boulevard,
Arlington, VA 22209 (702) 741-5000
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5. |
What are my options for getting rid of yard waste? |
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Yard waste recycling
opportunities are increasing. Many municipalities that have curbside recycling
programs also offer yard waste collection programs. There are also drop-off
locations open to residents.
Please contact your municipality
for more information about options available in your community.
Home or backyard composting
is also an alternative for recycling yard waste.
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6. |
Why aren't magazines, cereal boxes and "junk"
mail recycled along with newspapers? |
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Newspapers are
usually the most abundant paper type generated in households. Newsprint
is a specific grade of paper that has specific uses. Other paper types
are comprised of many different paper grades with varied recyclability
and market demand. Mixing paper grades can require extra sorting which
can increase recycling costs and/or lower the value of the paper.
To maximize any recycling process,
only the items asked for should be source-separated. Adding other paper
types can jeopardize the recyclability of the newspaper and actually hurt
the recycling program.
In Lancaster County, non-recyclable
paper types are processed as waste at the Resource
Recovery Facility to generate electricity.
Corrugated cardboard is another
type of paper that is normally recycled by businesses. Some municipalities
are providing drop-off opportunities for small local businesses and residents.
Please contact your municipality for the nearest drop-off facility you
may use.
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7. |
Does everyone in Lancaster County need to recycle? |
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Act 101 of 1998,
the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act,
was enacted by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. This act mandates that
municipalities with a population higher than 5,000 residents must adopt
an ordinance requiring curbside recycling by residents and recycling by
businesses, institutions, governments, and at community events.
Forty-three (43) of the sixty
(60) municipalities have chosen to implement some type of mandatory curbside
recycling program.
Benefits of recycling include:
controlling disposal costs, saving energy, and conserving natural resources.
If your community does not have a curbside recycling program, there are
several drop-off locations in Lancaster County.
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8. |
Why do I have to pay to recycle? Should I be paid
for my materials? |
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Although recyclables
are raw materials used by industry, the costs to collect, sort and prepare
recyclables for use by markets generally outweigh the value of the materials.
However, in most cases, the overall cost to recycle is less than the cost
of disposal.
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