MOUNT VERNON — Most consumers know that plastic grocery and retail bags are recyclable, but the conundrum has always been what to do with all of those other pieces of plastic that recycling centers do not accept.
With the help of three local businesses, the puzzle has been solved, at least partially.
Randy Canterbury, litter and recycling coordinator for Knox County, reports that in addition to the plastic retail bags, Lowe’s, Kroger, and Walmart accept a variety of other plastic bags and film packaging. Plastics accepted include:
- Bread, produce, newspaper, and dry cleaning bags
- Food storage bags (clean and dry)
- Product wrap on cases of water/soda bottles, napkins, paper towels, disposable cups, diapers, female sanitary products, and bathroom tissue
- Furniture and electronic wrap
- Plastic cereal box liners (do not include if it tears like paper)
- Plastic shipping envelopes such as medicine bags (remove labels)
- Bubble wrap and air pillows (deflated)
- Any film packaging or bag that has the How2Recycle label
Unfortunately, some plastics contain a contaminant and cannot be recycled. Those kinds of plastics include:
- Pre-washed salad mix bags
- Frozen food bags
- Candy bar wrappers
- Chip bags
- Six-pack rings
- Degradable/compostable bags or film packaging
In an update to the county commissioners on Tuesday, Canterbury said he is applying for a Coca Cola grant in the form of recycling receptacles in public locations. He has contacted local village officials, all of whom are interested in the program.
“We agreed that if we get the grant, village administrators will weigh the recyclables collected the first year, and I will do waste audits,” he said.
Danville, Fredericktown, and Gambier are interested in six receptacles each; Centerburg is interested in 10 receptacles.
Canterbury is also applying for a Litter and Community grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. He requested $12,600 for security cameras at the Thayer Road compost site. Commissioner Teresa Bemiller said that illegal dumping has been an ongoing problem at the site.
At the request of a student, Canterbury is working with Fredericktown school officials to create a recycling strategy for the schools. He is also looking into creating an adopt-a-road program for township roads. Other programs on tap include:
- Spring Cleanup, April 4 through the last Saturday in April
- Document Destruction Day, April 27
- Kokosing River Cleanup, Sept. 21
- Revising the recycling scholarship program
