Why your life just got easier-- The City's new recycling policy

The City of Alexandria has just implemented a new recycling method: single-stream recycling. This method allows Alexandria residents to place ALL recyclables into the yellow recycling bin the city provides for its residents. Therefore, instead of sorting your paper from your plastic—just put it all together! The benefit of this method is simple. Everything goes into one place and you will spend less time sorting and carrying each type of recyclable to the curb.

The following are the guidelines given by the City:

• Empty and rinse all beverage containers and metal cans.
• Remove all caps, tops and lids.
• Flatten plastic and aluminum beverage containers and metal cans.
• Place all mixed paper and bottles and cans in your yellow bin.
• Set out your recycling bin on the same day as your trash collection.> No earlier than 5PM the day before pick-up.> No later than 7AM (Oct. 1-April 30) or 6AM (May 1-Sept. 30) the day of pick-up.> Place at curb, even if your trash is collected in the alley.
• Do not use plastic bags to hold recyclable materials.
  

So, what can’t you recycle?

• Pizza boxes: Pizza boxes are typically contaminated by oils and food leftover from the pizza and cannot be cleaned from the cardboard.
• Butter/Yogurt tubs and lids (all other plastics without a neck): Plastic containers that do not have a neck (i.e. berry containers, yogurt/butter tubs, etc) are made with different types of plastic and are formed differently. This causes these containers to melt at a different temperature than those plastic bottles with a neck. Currently, there are no local manufacturers who can use these materials in the making of new materials. For more information on recycling plastics, please read the following article "Recycling Plastic: Complications and Limitation."
• Aluminum foil and trays: Like the plastics industry, there are no local recycling processors or manufacturers who are taking this material to be made into new products.
• Plastic bags: Plastic grocery bags (and other plastic bags) should not be used or placed in Alexandria's curbside recycling program. However, there are many grocery stores who will collect the plastic grocery bags, which will be recycled into plastic lumber. Please ask your local grocery store about their program, or consider reusing the bag as a bathroom garbage can liner, etc.
• Milk/Juice Cartons (Waxed Paper Cartons): Milk and juice cartons are not recyclable because of the wax coating. Any paper with a waxing coating is not recyclable because the wax contaminates the pulping process at the manufacturer level.

Still don't believe us? For more information on single stream recycling, please visit: http://www.alexrecycles.org/recyclingcurbside.php