Recycling & Renewables Rap : Plastic Bags??

Recycling & Renewables Rap

This is the place for those who want to walk the talk on green living. Interested in the latest news on curbside recycling? Have a suggestion or idea about how to make Anchorage a greener community? Look no further than this recycling blog. Anchorage is moving fast to become a leader in protecting our environment, reducing climate change impacts, and hopefully saving money in the process.

Contributors

BLOGGER

Jeanne Carlson

I am the recycling coordinator at the Municipality of Anchorage's Solid Waste Services. I also am program director at Green Star. My masters degree is in natural resources and behavior from the University of Michigan and I have worked in recycling around the country for 18 years.

BLOGGER

Mary Fisher

As executive director of ALPAR (Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling, I work on litter and recycle issues statewide. ALPAR is supported primarily through the business community. I have a marketing degree from Missouri State University.

Local recyclers

Cooking oil recycling

Got used cooking oil? If you are a restaurant or large generator of used cooking oil, Alaska Mill and Feed will pick up your cooking oil and recycle it. For more information call 279-4519, press "option 3".

AHFC Research Information Center

Alaska Housing Finance Corporation provides a public and web accessible library on sustainability, sustainable development, energy efficiency, and green building.

Total Reclaim

Provides recycling and management services for computers, electronics, refrigeration equipment, lighting and appliances.

Alaska Conservation Solutions

Founded in 2005 to give voice to the pervasive consequences of global warming in Alaska while pursuing solutions.

Muni Solid Waste Services

Where in the city to recycle electronics, dispose of waste oil or automobile batteries.

ALPAR

ALPAR is a privately funded, non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating litter and increasing economically-viable recycling in Alaska. ALPAR programs and services are made possible by the generous support of our member companies and other dedicated businesses and organizations throughout Alaska.

Alaska Metal Recycling

This is the largest metal recycling facility in the state, paying for ferrous and non-ferrous metal

Green Star

Green Star is a non-profit organization that encourages businesses to practice waste reduction, energy conservation and pollution prevention.

Ask an expert

GET ANSWERS

Where do I recycle my ____?

Wondering how and where to recycle your refrigerator, cell phone, computer, batteries? Ask here.

Plastic Bags??

Posted by recycle

Posted: November 18, 2008 - 11:52 am

If you've been to the Anchorage Recycling Center recently, you may have noticed that the bin for plastic bags is no longer there. In its place is a sign indicating that plastic bag recycling has been temporarily suspended. So why is it gone and what are we supposed to do with our bags?

Well, markets for recyclable materials, like amany commodity markets, have suffered a steep downturn both in the U.S. and internationally. When manufacturing slows, the need for raw materials slows as well. For plastic bags and film, the market has all but disappeared, causing the recycling center to stop accepting bags temporarily. Plastic bags and film typically are used by plastic lumber manufacturers. These manufacturers have stopped buying material until they use up the inventory they have and the construction market recovers.

So what do we do until then? Here are a few suggestions until the recycling bin comes back.
1) consider switching to reusable bags for grocery shopping
2) reuse your bags around the house for trash bags, dog poop bags and other second uses
3) drop off grocery bags in the recycling bins in the entryway of Carrs, Fred Meyer, and Wal-Mart stores -- these bins are for grocery bags only
4) for other types of plastic film, either hold onto them until the bin comes back or dispose of them responsibly with your trash

DO NOT leave them at the recycling center if there is no bin! This costs the recycling center a lot of money to dispose of all this material.