Rhode Island residents can now recycle bottle caps
August 18, 2010 - The rules of recycling just got easier. Effectively immediately, Rhode Islanders can recycle plastic bottle caps. Until now, the caps needed to be discarded in the trash when recycling water bottles, ketchup bottles, laundry detergent jugs, shampoo bottles, etc.
Triggers on spray bottles, such as glass cleaners, laundry stain removers, or sunblock, can also be recycled but must be left on the rinsed-out bottle and not recycled separately.
Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) processes household recyclables from every Rhode Island city and town at the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Johnston. Because recycling sorting technologies have changed, MRFs no longer have to worry about sending bales full of caps to manufacturers.
"Our plastics customers no longer consider bottle caps to be "contamination," said Sarah Kite, director of recycling services at RIRRC. "From now on, it's OK for Rhode Islanders to keep the caps on their plastic bottles when recycling them. Besides convenience and simplicity, recycling caps adds more material to the list of what we can recycle, which is a bonus. Rinse, recap, recycle - it's easy to remember."
Bottle caps are made from rigid high-density polyethylene (HDPE or #2 plastic). But in the past it wasn't the type of plastic that was a barrier to recycling it; it was the way the plastic was created. Hollow bottles are blow-molded into shape. Mixing blow-molded plastics with injection-molded plastics was a no-no.
As a reminder, the bottles should still be quickly rinsed out before being placed in the blue bin. Rinsing the bottles helps improve the value of the plastic and helps keep the MRF clean. Caps should be kept on the bottles, not left loose in the bin.
"In the near future, we plan to add all types of plastic, that is numbers 1 through 7, to the list of recyclables in Rhode Island," said Kite. "As technologies improve, we can divert this type of waste away from burial in the Central Landfill and preserve the space for truly unrecyclable goods."
If you have questions about how to recycle plastics, go to the RIRRC website (rirrc.org/AtoZ) for a comprehensive list or call their hotline at 941-1430 x775.
Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation is the quasi-state environmental agency dedicated to providing the public with environmentally sound programs and facilities to manage waste. The agency helps fund and promote the state's recycling program, and owns and operates the Materials Recycling Facility and Central Landfill in Johnston.
CLEAN CITY PROGRAM WILL HOLD A SPRING RECYCLING DAY FOR HARD TO RECYCLE ITEMS AND PAPER SHREDDING
April 8, 2010 - The Newport Public Services Department's Clean City Program would like invite residents to recycle electronic waste, plastics, clothing & household items, books, bicycles and shred sensitive documents during the Clean City Program's Spring Recycling Day & Compost Bin Sale. The event will be in the Easton's Beach east parking lot on Saturday, May 1 from 8am to 12pm. This event is sponsored by the City of Newport's Clean City Program and Waste Management.
Download Spring Recycling Day flyer. [PDF]
This event will accept the following items for recycling:
- Paper shredding service (paper will be recycled): Newport area residents are invited to bring up to four banker size boxes of paper to be shredded. Residents may bring their documents in any type of carrying container but must stay within the four banker box limit. Files can be left in manilla file folders and hanging files. Staples and paper clips are also acceptable to leave in your files. Residents will be served on a first come, first serve basis. Once the truck is full, we will not be able to take additional documents for shredding. If you do not wish to keep your cardboard box, it will be recycled through the City of Newport.
- Electronic waste: Computers/CPUs, monitors, keyboards, mice, scanners, televisions, laptops, fax machines, modems, routers, VCRs, DVD players, miscellaneous computer parts and wires, digital cameras, cell phones & accessories and more. No freon bearing items such as air conditioners, dehumidifiers, refrigerators and large metal items such as washers and dryers.
- Rigid plastics not normally collected in the curbside recycling program: #3-7 plastics, plastic toys, buckets, milk & soda crates, laundry baskets, lawn furniture, landscape items such as edging, microwave trays, plastic totes, plastic drums (food grade only, no chemical containers), pet carriers, plastic pallets, coolers, shelving, closet organizers, dish drainers, flower pots (no soil), garbage cans, recycling bins, waste baskets, 5 gallon water bottles. All plastic items brought for recycling must be clean and free of any wood, metal, glass, wires or batteries.
- Big Sisters of RI accepts "gently used" items such as: anything made of cloth - clothing for all ages and genders; and sheets, towels, curtains, blankets, area rugs, table linens, throw pillows, etc. as well as unusable clothing/fabric . Household items - home décor, kitchen items such as plates, glasses, vases, etc . Books, toys, games, stuffed animals, etc. Small appliances and electronics in good working order, such as blenders, mixers, radios, etc. NO car seats, cribs, electronics (computers, TVs, etc), broken items, magazines, newspapers, books without covers, plants, mattresses, water heaters, tires, car parts, lawnmowers, wall-to-wall carpeting, building materials or health care equipment.
- Reading Tree: Books (hardcover, paperback, any age - child or adult), DVDs, VHS tapes. NO magazines, phonebooks, catalogs, or books that have mold or mildew.
- Bicycles/bikes: working and "salvageable" bicycles will be accepted for recycling. The East Bay Met School refurbishes bicycles. Students learn mechanics & go for bike rides. The bikes are also used in a program that works in conjunction with the Newport Heights Boys and Girls Club. Local children also earn free bikes by taking one of our 6-hour introductory bike maintenance and safety classes.
This event is NOT the Eco Depot collection for hazardous waste, therefore, items such as paints, fluorescent bulbs and other hazardous waste will NOT be collected at this event.
"It's time to take a good look at your basements and storage areas," said Kristin Littlefield, the City of Newport's Clean City Coordinator. "The City of Newport's Spring Recycling Day will give you the opportunity to clean out some of your unwanted items that you didn't know what to do with."
The Clean City Program would also like to announce the 2nd Annual Compost Bin sale. The Earth Machine compost bin will be offered for just $45 each (retails at over $100). Newport residents only can call the Clean City Program 845-5613 to preorder by April 28. You must preorder to take advantage of this sale. Pick up your bin on May 1 at the Spring Recycling Day and pay by check at the event. Visit www.earthmachine.com for details on the compost bin and what to compost.
Last year, the Clean City Program's events recycled 6,760 pounds of shredded paper, 19,940 pounds of electronic waste and 3,288 pounds of rigid plastic. We also sold over 140 compost bins to Newport residents.
For more information about the Spring Recycling Day or to preorder a compost bin, contact the Clean City Program at 845-5613.
CLEAN CITY PROGRAM ANNOUNCES EARTH DAY CLEANUP EVENTS
April 7, 2010 - The Newport Public Services Department's Clean City Program would like to invite Newport area residents to volunteer to clean up Newport for the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
A grant from RI Department of Environmental Management and J. R. Vinagro Corp. of Johnston, RI will provide bags and gloves for volunteers in Newport. The Clean City Program will be picking up the bags of litter for the clean up events listed below. Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation is waiving all disposal fees associated with litter collected during Earth Day cleanups.
Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22. The City of Newport will be celebrating Earth Day on Saturday, April 24 and invites all interested to participate on this day. If you are interested in volunteering for one of the below Earth Day events, you may contact the event coordinator directly.
On Saturday, April 17, the Off Broadway Neighborhood Association will be cleaning up between Broadway and Van Zandt Ave., and Vicksburg Pl., Tilley Ave., Pond St. to Malbone Rd. Contact Ellen Nichols at theel@cox.net or 401-864-0372.
The following events will take place on Saturday, April 24:
- Save The Bay will be cleaning up Easton's Beach, 175 Memorial Blvd. from 9am-11am. To volunteer, you must contact Stephany Hessler in advance at shessler@savebay.org or 272-3540 x130.
- The Friends of Ballard Park will be holding an Earth Day celebration by cleaning up litter at 9 a.m., following a free guided tour of the park at 11 a.m. Contact Colleen McGrath with Friends of Ballard Park at 619-3377 or visit www.ballardpark.org. The Preservation Society of Newport County will also be helping clean up Ballard Park.
- Friends of the Waterfront will be cleaning up King Park and the surrounding area. Volunteers should meet at the pavilion on King Park at 9 a.m.
- The Point Association will be cleaning driftways along Washington St. Volunteers should meet at Battery Park at 10 a.m. Contact Isabel Griffith at igriffith38@verizon.net.
- The Newport County Saltwater Fishing Club will be cleaning the shoreline fishing access areas in Newport and Middletown. Volunteers should meet at Salt Water Edge, 47 Valley Rd., Middletown at 10 a.m. Contact Dennis Zambrotta at 849-6121.
"We are fortunate that Newport has such dedicated volunteers," said Kristin Littlefield, Clean City Coordinator for the City of Newport. "The City of Newport is appreciative of any assistance you can provide in keeping our city clean."
For more information about the City of Newport's Earth Day celebration, or an updated list of participating groups, contact the Clean City Program at 845-5613.
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