Plastic bags are a nuisance to many recycling facilities.

Did you know that many recycling facilities do not accept plastic bags?  Though it seems counterintuitive, one of the best ways to help your municipality’s recycling efforts is to know what NOT to put into your recycling bin. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS3Gm-K1GO4

Recyclables entering a single stream recycling process are sorted by automated equipment.  When plastic bags become wrapped around sorting disks, the equipment can no longer sort efficiently.  This results in staff having to routinely halt production  to clear the bags away from the sorting disks. 

Lisa Disbrow, Director of Public Affairs for Waste Management's CID Recycling Center in Chicago, cites that the problems arising from plastic bags account for tens of thousands of dollars in added costs to the recycling process.  In addition to the incease in processing costs, clogs in the recycling equipment can cause mixed bales, which cannot be used by manufacturers and must be re-processed.

The moral of the story is to keep those plastic bags out of your recycling bin.  You can rest at ease that your plastic bags will do more harm than good in the recycling bin.  On the other hand, please DO make sure that your paper grocery bags go into the recycling bin as they are widely accepted and easily recycled.

SOURCE:
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20161219/lincoln-square/plastic-bag-recycling-blue-cart-waste-management
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS3Gm-K1GO4

Five Tips for Recycling During the Holidays

Did you know that Americans throw away 25% more trash during the holiday season?

That’s 25 million tons of extra garbage! Take these five easy steps to go green during the holidays.  

1.) Skip the shiny wrapping paper.  In many areas it cannot be recycled, so check before you put it in the blue bin.  Instead, use untreated paper, like Ross & Wallace’s kraft paper, that can be recycled easily.  Kraft paper looks great plain, but if you have kids at home, we suggest enlisting the them to draw designs on it for a festive touch that keeps them entertained.

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2.) DO recycle your boxes, cans, and paper.  In the days of online holiday shopping, there are quite a few empty boxes laying around.  Though they can be cumbersome, cardboard boxes as well as cans, plastic milk jugs, and bottles are “high value” recyclables, but 69% of plastic bottles and 45% of aluminum cans don’t get recycled.

3.) Keep plastic bags OUT of the recycling bin.  Though some grocery and retail stores will collect used plastic bags for recycling, they can clog equipment and shut down an entire recycling plant.  Because of this, Recycle Often Recycle Right has asked that plastic bags not be placed in with general recycling.  Deposit plastic bags at participating stores, but keep them out of your at-home bin.

4.) Go compostable!  Soiled paper plates, cups, and napkins are not recyclable.  It’s best to opt for reusable items, but if you go the disposable route, look for compostable brands.  

5.) Keep it clean and dry.  Soggy items can spoil an entire load of recycling!

SOURCES:
http://www.use-less-stuff.com/ULSDAY/42ways.html
http://recycleoftenrecycleright.com/
https://www.theguardian.com/vital-signs/2014/dec/25/how-to-recycling-christmas-packaging-wrapping-plastic-bags

Plastic is out - Paper and Reusable Bags are in.

California passed a statewide ban on single-use plastic carryout bags.

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GET THE FACTS on Proposition 67 “The Plastic Bag Ban.”

• SENATE BILL 270 – In 2014 the California legislature passed Senate Bill 270, which prohibited certain businesses statewide from providing single-use plastic carryout bags and required businesses to charge customers for any other type of carryout bag provided at checkout.

• PROPOSITION 67 – The implementation of Senate Bill 270 was suspended, because Proposition 67, which would eliminate the law, qualified to be on the 2016 ballot.  Proposition 67 asked California voters to decide whether the statewide carryout bag law should be upheld or rejected. On November 8, 2016, California’s voters passed Proposition 67, which upheld Senate Bill 270.

• IMPACTS - Proposition 67 prohibits certain California stores (most grocery stores, convenience stores, large pharmacies, and liquor stores) from providing single-use plastic carryout bags statewide.

• PAPER AND REUSABLE BAGS – Proposition 67 allows businesses to sell recycled paper bags and reusable bags at a minimum price of $.10 cents per bag.

• EXCLUDES – Proposition 67 excludes bags for select purposes, such as wrapping unwashed produce and bags for prescription medications.  It also excludes certain types of stores such as retail clothing stores.  Certain low- income customers are also exempt.

• FINES - ($1,000) per day for the first violation, two thousand dollars ($2,000) per day for the second violation, and five thousand dollars ($5,000) per day for the third and subsequent violations.

• SUPPORTERS – Albertsons Safeway, The California Grocers Association, Surfrider Foundation, Clean Water Action.

CASE STUDY: San Jose California
San Jose’s Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance went into effect January 1, 2012.  Since then San Jose has reported a 76% reduction in plastic bags found in creeks and rivers as of the end of the 2016 hotspot season and a 69% reduction in plastic bags in storm drain inlets.

SOURCES:
http://www.natlawreview.com/article/consumer-products-passage-california-s-proposition-67-question-would-you-paper-or
http://www.natlawreview.com/article/california-plastic-bag-ban-survives-ballot-referendum
http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/en/propositions/67/arguments-rebuttals.htm
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/index.aspx?NID=5261

How to Make Popcorn in a Paper Bag

Did you know that microwave popcorn contains harmful chemicals that end up on your popcorn and in your belly?  Yeah, we know, that's gross.  Luckily, you can use a classic Ross & Wallace paper bag to make easy, delicious popcorn at home with just three ingredients: popcorn kernels, oil, and salt.  

Step 1, gather the essentials.

1. Paper Bag (we used an 8#)
2. 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels
3. 1 tsp, of oil (we used olive oil)
4. Salt

Step 2, combine and microwave

Combine popcorn kernels and oil in your paper bag and fold 3-4 times to prevent the popcorn from escaping.  Place the folded bag in the microwave on high for 2 minutes or until popcorn stops popping in regular bursts. 

Step 3, add salt and shake
Immediately add salt, or make it gourmet by drizzling melted chocolate or sprinkling on cheese flavoring. Shake well and ENJOY!

Homemade popcorn that's easy, inexpensive, and good for you.