Big Change to R.I. Recycling — OK to Recycle Caps

RIRRC ANNOUNCES CHANGE TO RECYCLING RULES:
OK TO RECYCLE BOTTLE CAPS
Change to begin immediately

JOHNSTON, R.I. (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.