Clamshell Containers Recycling
They are not accepted in your king county curbside recycling bin.
Clamshell containers recycling. Pet clamshell recycling challenges. 1 1 pet thermoform. The plastic in clamshells is different than the plastic that is in recyclable bottles and jugs even though they may all have a 1 recycling symbol on them. Here are five common items that rarely get recycled properly.
Agricultural plastic agricultural plastic includes empty plastic pesticide containers plastic twine irrigation pipe bale wrap mulch film and other plastic films. A 2016 article by the national association for pet container resources napcor identified key issues with recycling pet thermoform containers such as plastic clamshells. But the pet thermoform containers pose various recycling challenges. Lastly the idea of look a like contamination is of concern.
The clear clam shells used for carryout fruit baked goods and other food items is also known as 1 pet thermoform. As for the caps some sorting facilities want people to keep them on while others say to take them off. That is in mrfs employing manual sorters how do you train staff to distinguish a pet. The containers are firm they don t flatten out like paper and they re made from a kind of plastic that manufacturers can easily sell for making products such as carpet fleece clothing or even more plastic bottles.
Having recycling bins present at every turn may not be enough to get the correct materials to the right recycling facilities. According to the national association for pet container resources or napcor single layer thermoplastic pet clamshells could indeed theoretically at least be recycled along with the pet soda. These are the types of items the recycling system was developed to handle. Almost 15 tons of material from plastic containers and packaging were created in 2015 in the u s.
The type of plastic used to make clamshells melts at a different temperature and if it ends up mixed in with other types of plastic it can ruin a whole batch of recycled plastic. The equipment used in our local material recovery facility sorts plastic materials based on shape and only accepts bottled shaped plastics. Planting nursery pots larger than 4 inches in diameter and made of rigid rather than crinkly or flexible plastic. These containers often have labels with strong adhesives that are.
Unfortunately plastic clamshell containers are not accepted in franklin county s curbside or drop off recycling programs. Recycling clamshells come in all shapes sizes and materials making it difficult for. This means that when making decisions about which plastics to put in the curbside.