This is the third of three spring cleanup articles. May 24-46 is the Village of Bluffton Cleanup Week, with dumpsters provided for village residents at the Spring St. brush dump.

By Liz Gordon-Hancock

“More than half of the trash you generate can be recycled,” says Rumpke Waste & Recycling, Bluffton’s local waste and recycling provider. 

But, as the saying goes, old habits die hard, so the Icon is providing this refresher on what is currently being accepted by the village curbside recycling program. 

Rumpke will recycle:

• Plastic bottles and jugs ( flatten and reattach the lid)
• Glass bottles and jars (any color)
• Aluminum and steel cans
• Juice or milk cartons (with lids and straws removed)

• Empty paper or plastic beverage cups (lids reattached, but straws removed)

• Empty aerosol cans (with lids and tips removed)
• Paperboard (such as cereal boxes, 12-pack containers, etc.)
• Cardboard (broken down)
• A variety of paper products, including:
     o Office paper
     o Newspaper
     o Magazines
     o Junk mail and envelopes (with or without windows)
     o Telephone books
     o Paper grocery bags

The attached image also shows what Rumpke recycles. 

Did you know your empty paper or plastic beverage cup from a fast food restaurant can now be recycled?

Recent innovations in paper and plastic recycling have resulted in demand for these materials. Additionally, manufacturers are now able to recycle more materials, such as the plastic-coated paper used to make fast food beverage cups. Rumpke states “paper mills have pledged to recycle paper cups and advancements in plastic recycling have increased the demand for additional types of plastic products.”

This means you can place your empty paper beverage cups from fast food restaurants in your curbside recycling bin. Rumpke specifies that lids need to be reattached before placing them in your bin. However, the straws are not recyclable.

In addition to #1 and #2 plastics, Rumpke now also accepts plastic tubs, juice or milk cartons for recycling. 

Plastic tubs, such as margarine or sour cream tubs, are typically #5 plastic, known as polypropylene. Rumpke reports demand for polypropylene has increased, thereby opening up a market for recycling these items.  To recycle these tubs, please place the lid back on before placing it in your recycling bin.

The paper cups processed at Rumpke’s recycling facilities will be made into cardboard and paperboard products. Plastic cups will be used to make new plastic containers and aluminum cups will be made into aluminum cans.

“Never in our history has the demand for recycled materials been greater,” said Rumpke.

About Rumpke

Rumpke Waste & Recycling, a 90-year-old company based near Cincinnati, processes more than a billion pounds of recycling annually through its 12 recycling facilities. According to their website, this privately owned company processes waste and recycling for areas of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia.