My Clearwater
Fall 07
What the 'Recycle Symbol' Means for You
Typically, people see the recycle symbol on all kinds
of plastic items and believe that means it can go into
their single-stream container. What this symbol is
denoting is the type of plastic the item is made from.
This does not mean that it can automatically be recycled
curbside.
Curbside recycling in Clearwater uses single-stream
processing, which means that all items are put into the same
bin and are sorted by material type at the facility. Then, they
are baled and sold to manufacturers. The methods used for
this sorting allows only for certain items to be sorted out; it
is not done entirely manually, so machines need to be able to
separate the items properly.
Certain types of plastics, such as films, bags, red plastic
cups, and plastic buckets are not able to be sorted correctly,
despite having a recycling symbol on them. This is why it is
important to know if the item itself fits into one of the five
categories accepted by the city of Clearwater. Current items
that are accepted in Clearwater’s recycling program include
plastic bottles and jugs, metal cans, glass
bottles and jars, cardboard boxes and
paper.
When recycling, it is a best practice
to first identify which category of
acceptable items the material falls into
before checking the packaging for a
number or recycling symbol. This helps
avoid the confusion that the recycling
symbol may bring. Many items that
are unable to be accepted at singlestream
sorting facilities can be recycled
elsewhere, likely where they are presorted.
Things such as plastic bags, wrap,
foam egg cartons and bubble wrap can
be recycled in designated containers at
local retailers. It is important that these
materials do not get recycled curbside.
Another growing issue, as more
restaurants move away from plastic
and Styrofoam is the confusion between
items that are compostable versus recyclable. Compostable
items cannot be sorted at a recycling facility because they
are not true plastics, though many do feel and look like it.
Unlike plastic, these items are able to be broken down into
their natural state when they are in the right conditions.
These are good alternatives to plastic, but cannot be recycled;
they typically need to be composted at a commercial facility.
Similar to yard waste (which
is not recyclable), many
people believe that since it is
a “natural” substance that it
can be recycled. This is not
the case.
If you aren’t sure if the item
can be recycled, try checking
Pinellas County’s “Where
Does It Go” Search Tool
or throw it away. When in
doubt, throw it out!