The Problem with Plastics

A Monmouth County Environmental Council Roundtable Event Tuesday October 29, 2019, 6 -9 p.m..

NY/NJ Baykeeper Reducing Plastic Pollution

From Research to Action How to Reduce Plastic Pollution in your

Community

Types of plastics found • Film: from plastic bags, cling wrap • Foam: from coffee cups and restaurant to-go boxes • Pellets: microbeads and “nurdles” • Line: fishing line and clothing fibers • Fragment: unidentified hard piece of plastic

RESULTS

Results At least 165 MILLION plastic particles are in NY-NJ

Harbor waters 165 M plastic pieces floating at any given time in NY-NJ

Harbor Estuary waters

Comparing the Types of Plastics Found

At least 165 MILLION plastic particles are in NY-NJ Harbor waters

Results

Our Call to Action

Stop using throwaway, single-use

plastic products.

Offenders: straws, bags, bottles, take-out foam boxes, utensils, etc.

“Bring a Bag” Hikes

Questions?

Meredith DeMarco 732-888-9870 ext 4

meredith@nynjbaykeeper.org

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @NYNJBaykeeper

What Should You Know and Do?

Stuart A. Newman, Solid Waste Coordinator Jaye S. Sims, Assistant District Recycling Coordinator William J. Johnson, Clean Communities Coordinator

Do you know what type of recycling collection your town does?

Is it Single Stream ? Is it Dual Stream ?

The passage of New Jersey’s mandatory recycling legislation in April, 1987 was a major milestone in our state’s solid waste management history and helped establish New Jersey as a leader in this field. The “New Jersey Statewide Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act” (Recycling Act), N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.11 et seq., set forth an ambitious program that reshaped at least one aspect of the everyday lives of state residents, businesses and institutions. Among other things, the Recycling Act required New Jersey’s twenty-one counties to develop recycling plans that mandated the recycling of at least three designated recyclable materials, in addition to leaves. County recycling plans were also required to designate the strategy to be utilized for the collection, marketing and disposition of designated recyclable materials. Other provisions of the Recycling Act required municipalities to adopt an ordinance based upon their county’s recycling plan

A recycling collection method in which all recyclable materials are collected in one container at the curb & placed in the collection vehicle until processed at a MRF (Material Recovery Facility) specially designed for sorting & processing loads of recyclables.

This means that residents keep paper in one container and other recyclables—such as plastic and metal—in another

In the early 2000s, recycling changed with the arrival of single-stream recycling.

Through this process, residents and businesses could put all of their recyclables into a single bin or cart, and those items would then be separated at a sorting facility.

Over a short period of time, thanks to the convenience of single-stream, more people began to participate and recycling rates soared to their highest levels.

Households were recycling more, and as a result, we were processing thousands of tons for the betterment of the environment.

At the same time, products and packaging were becoming more complex. For example, the size of a plastic bottle today as compared to 15 years ago.

Plastic bottles today are a lot thinner and lighter than they used to be. We’ve also seen that a wider variety of plastics are being used to package the everyday items we purchase.

Thus, this complexity has in many ways altered our understanding of what is recyclable. More and more non-recyclables are finding their way into single-stream containers.

Trash mixed in with recyclable items causing contamination

Plastic bags and pizza boxes are just two of the many materials that are not acceptable for recycling.

Contamination rates – or the percentage of trash mixed with recyclables has steadily climbed over the years.

Plastics risk the lives of marine species, and the overall health of the ocean

Reduction in plastic pollution that finds its way into the ocean and other waterways

Major education programs are necessary

Volunteers spend many hours cleaning debris that marine life eat or get tangle up in

Causing death to marine life or birds

Plastic Bags Kitchen Trash Bags Food Storage or Take-Out Containers Straws, Caps, or Lids Plastic Wrap or Food Wrappers Margarine Tubs Yogurt Containers Diaper Wipe Containers Styrofoam Shredded Paper Light Bulbs 5-Gallon Rigid Plastic Buckets Garden Hoses

Contamination significantly increases the cost to process recyclables. Add this to the fact that commodity prices for recyclables has fallen significantly and the financial sustainability of recycling is at risk.

Recycling contamination has a direct impact in the quality of recyclables entering the commodity markets.

For example, when food or liquids are placed in a recycling container they will ultimately saturate tons and tons of otherwise good paper and cardboard that they come into contact with.

When paper and cardboard loses its quality, it also loses its ability to be recycled and thus it becomes trash.

In response to these quality issues, China – a major importer of recyclables – recently issued new rules on the types of materials it will accept, including a 0.5% max on recycling contamination.

That means that the 25% contamination rate we see today at the curb must reach virtually zero for those items to be recycled. Anything above that 0.5% will not be acceptable recycling

commodities.

Manufactures report problems created by poor quality control of materials being shipped to end markets.

Do you think the rug belongs there?

Residents that place inappropriate and contaminating materials in their recycling cans are difficult to sort out at the MRF

Residual recyclable materials from any system end up being landfilled in most cases

End Markets are currently seeing more contamination. Optical Sorting a Potential Solution

Both single and dual stream recycling are showing some levels of contamination.

What Are Ways Towns Can Eliminate The Problem?

1. Enforcement 2. Education

Creating Environmental Stewardships Engage in agricultural practices Healthy lifestyle Using organic materials in the garden Eating healthy

The garden provides a place to study insects, soil, and other environmental topics

Students can conduct experiments in the garden

Communities and businesses are responsible for recycling the right items, the right way.

Basically, it’s time to get back to the basics and to apply the same discipline we did years ago to the modern recycling programs of today.

Recycling all empty glass bottles, cans, paper, plastic bottles and cardboard

Keep food and liquids out of your recycling A quick rinse of the item does it

Keep all plastic bags out of your recycling

To Recycle, or Not to Recycle

Amber Mallm, Environmental Specialist Monmouth County Division of Planning Amber.Mallm@co.monmouth.nj.us

Dirty Pizza Box

Dirty Pizza Box NOT Recycled Curbside

• Unable to process • Makes other items dirty • Attracts pests • Throw in the TRASH

Collapsed Clean Cardboard

Collapsed Clean Cardboard: Recycled Curbside • Clean cardboard and other paper items

are recyclable at curbside • Other acceptable papers:

• Soft covered books, brown paper bags, cereal boxes, colored/white paper, envelopes, junk mail, magazines, newspaper, phone books, wrapping paper, non-metallic wrapping paper

# 1 & 2 Bottles with a Pourable Neck

# 1 & 2 Bottles with a Pourable Neck Recycled Curbside

What about the Caps?

Caps Not Recycled Curbside

• Please remove caps from #1 and # 2 items and discard in trash

Plastic “Clam Shells”

Plastic “Clam Shells” NOT Recycled Curbside

• Often # 5, not recycled at this time • Monmouth County only accepts #1 & 2 with a pourable neck

Plastic Bags

Plastic Bags NOT Recycled Curbside

• Please don’t put your recyclables in a plastic bag, instead place loose in can

• Plastic bags are made from a different type of plastic

• Stretchy- gum up equipment • Dangerous to open

Zippered Plastic Bags

Zippered Plastic Bags NOT Recycled Curbside

These bags?

These bags? Not Recycled Curbside

Grocery bags?

Grocery bags? NOT RECYCLED CURBSIDE

DO NOT RECYCLE PLASTIC BAGS CURBSIDE

Other solutions for plastic bags

• Some grocery stores accept plastic bags • Target, ShopRite, Wegmans, Stop & Shop • Check to see what

kinds of plastic can be included

• Trex Collection

Trex

Yogurt Cups

Yogurt Cups Not Recycled Curbside • Often # 5, not recycled at this time

Plastic “Tub” Containers

Plastic “Tub” Containers Not Recycled Curbside

• Often # 5, not recycled at this time

Aluminum/Tin Cans

Aluminum/Tin Cans Recycled Curbside

• Rinsed • Labels are ok! • Includes empty non-hazardous aerosol cans

Peanut Butter Jar

Peanut Butter Jar if its DIRTY: Not Recycled Curbside if it’s CLEAN: Recycled Curbside

• Please rinse out peanut butter jars to the best of your ability!

X

Napkins/Paper Towels/Plates/Cups

Napkins/Paper Towels/Plates/Cups Not Recycled Curbside • Made from a different type of “paper” • Often wet or dirty, contaminates stream

Detergent bottles

Detergent bottles Recycled Curbside • Recycle if it is a #1 or #2 • Rinse out • Cap in the trash

Spray Bottles

Spray Bottles Recycled Curbside

• Recycle if it’s a # 1 or 2 • Rinse out • Nozzle in the trash

Have a full bottle of a hazardous material you want to get rid of? • Bring containers of turpentine, paint, etc. or other chemicals to the Monmouth County Hazardous Household Waste Facility to be properly disposed

Take Out /Food Storage Containers

Take Out /Food Storage Containers Not Recycled Curbside • Often #5, not recyclable at this time • But great for reuse!!!

Batteries

Batteries it depends…

• Regular household A, AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt batteries can be thrown in the trash

• Button batteries and rechargeable batteries can be dropped-off to be recycled: • Monmouth County Hazardous Household Waste Facility • Select retail stores • Some municipal drop-offs

Flower Pots

Flower Pots Not Recycled

• Often #5, not recyclable at this time

• Save for reuse, • transplanting, dividing, propagating,

sharing with friends

• Check with your garden center for use & return

• Check with schools with gardening programs to donate

Glassware/China/Ceramics

Glassware/China/Ceramics Not Recycled Curbside • Made from a different type of glass • Dangerous under processing

Hard plastic items

Hard plastic items Not Recycled Curbside • Made from a different

type of plastic • Check with your

municipality for used toy drives

• Red Cross • Habitat for humanity • Thrift stores

Styrofoam

Styrofoam Not Recycled Curbside • Other options -Call ahead to confirm • FOAM PACK, INC. (Rigid foam only, no “peanuts”) • 72 Fadem Road, Springfield, NJ973-376-3700 • UPS STORE/MAIL BOXES ETC. (Place “peanuts” in a clear

plastic bag) • Rt. 35 & Harmony Road Middletown 732-957-8222 • 4057 Rte. 9 Aldrich Plaza, Howell 732-364-3994 • Shrewsbury Plaza Shopping Center 732-389-8586 • 520 Rte. 9, Manalapan 732-536-4490 • 48 Broad Street, Red Bank 732-530-0664 • 2435 Hwy. 34 Manasquan 732-292-1919

• PACK MAIL CENTERS OF AMERICA • 879 W. Park Ave., Ocean 732-493-3422

• POSTMARK PLUS • 1070 East Route 34, Matawan 732-583-0074

More Information/Resources • Refer to the Monmouth County Recycling Guide to find

out what is mandated for recycling in the County and what cannot be recycled in the County.

• Use the Recycle Coach App for a customized guide based on your municipality

• Visit your municipality’s website for more information • Registered with Sustainable Jersey?

• Pursue Non-Mandated Materials Recycling Action to earn points and recycle tricky items in your town