Recycle Rockbridge

Edition 37 March 2015

Plastic Recycling Each day in the United States, more than 60 million plastic water bottles are thrown lastics are used in a variety of away rather than recycled. These bottles ways, therefore it is produced are clogging streams that feed into in a very large amount. America’s rivers. A large amount of plastic P bottles that are not contained by fallen trees or other debris are floating into the Atlantic The word “plastic” is and Pacific Oceans. derived from the Greek word “plastikos,” What happens to plastic water bottles after meaning, “capable of they are drained? According to the being shaped or National Association for PET Container molded.” It refers to Resources, 505 million pounds of plastic the plastic’s flexibility beverage, food and non-food containers that allows them to be were recycled and used to make new cast into a variety of products such as polyester jackets, carpet, shapes and sizes. film and new plastic bottles. One reason plastic Here in Rockbridge County, we recycle recycling is important is plastics #1-7 with the exception of because it is made Styrofoam and bags. Plastic grocery bags from the oil which will can be taken to Walmart and placed in the cause the reduction of units for plastic bag recycling. this limited resource. Oil can be saved and used for longer periods of time when we Goodwill Program recycle our plastic. Recycling does not e are now partnering with harm the quality of the various types of Goodwill Industries at the plastics. Fairfield and Greenhouse WRoad Collection Centers Plastics are not biodegradable, yet we constantly find plastic bottles littered all (located at 260 Greenhouse Road, over the roadsides. Since these plastics Lexington and 6019 N. Lee Hwy, do not decompose on their own, they harm Fairfield). We have renovated our the environment. library buildings for the new program. We are currently accepting the are picked up by Goodwill Industries for following items in our Goodwill reuse in their stores. For more information, donation centers: speak to one of our collection center attendants, or contact Tracy Shafer, • Gently Used Clothing; Rockbridge County Solid Waste & • Accessories; Recycling Coordinator, at 540-460-7331. • Toys; • Books; Interesting Facts on Plastic • Linens; • Furniture; ! Plastic needs about 450 years just to • Computers; start decomposing. • Small Appliances; • Electronics. ! 40% of the total house plastic waste of the average American family is due to We CANNOT accept the following items the use of plastic bottles. in our Goodwill donation centers: ! The average American buys 167 bottles • Televisions; of water per year. • Major Appliances; • Mattress or Box Springs; ! 24 million gallons of oil are needed for • Cribs; producing one billion plastic bottles. • Strollers; • Playpens; ! The worldwide fishing industry throws a huge amount of plastic into the • Car Seats; oceans–approximately 150,000 tons • Other Infant Furniture; each year (packaging, plastic nets, lines • Tires; and buoys). • Batteries; • Paint; ! Recycling a single plastic bottle can • Chemical; conserve enough energy to light a 60 • Cleaning or Gardening watt bulb for 6 hours. Chemicals; • Kerosene or Gas Heaters; ! Surveys show that 90% of consumers • Upholstered Furniture that is reuse their plastic grocery bags at least torn, stained or soiled; once for lunch totes or wastebasket lines. • Fuel Tanks; • Gas Grill Tanks; ! Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, China, • Oxygen Tanks; Ireland and several European Union • Wet or Badly Stained Items; countries have banned or restricted the • Garbage or Trash. use of plastic bags.

Unlike the former swap shops, the items THANK YOU FOR RECYCLING! dropped at our Goodwill donation centers * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Find us on Facebook. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * are not available for public citizen use, but