FAQ's
About...RECYCLING
by Jeanne Carlson
Why Recycle?
In general, recycling
uses less energy and water, and fewer natural resources than making the
same product using virgin materials.
In addition, recycling typically generates less pollution.
For example, recycling aluminum uses 96% less energy than using
virgin materials to make aluminum. And
there’s no limit to the number of times an aluminum can may be
recycled! Recycling aluminum is also less damaging to other natural
resources. Bauxite, which is
the raw material of aluminum, is often mined by destroying acres and
acres of tropical rainforest.
Steel comes from iron
ore, which also is mined. Today,
almost all steel products contain recycled material, from food cans to
your stove, refrigerator, family car, and the buildings and bridges all
around Alaska. Each year,
steel recycling saves the energy equivalent to that necessary to
electrically power about one-fifth of the households in the U.S. (about
18 million homes) for one entire year.
Cardboard recycling
reduces energy use by 25% compared to making cardboard from trees.
Making glass bottles from mostly recycled glass rather than from 100%
raw materials (sand, soda ash, and limestone) reduces air pollution by
20% and reduces water pollution by about 50%.
How Do I Recycle In
Anchorage?
Almost all recycling in
Anchorage is done through drop-off locations.
The primary recycling drop-off location (and the one that accepts
the most materials) is the Anchorage Recycling Center, located at 6161
Dowling Street. Here, you
can drop off the following materials 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
newspaper, mixed paper, magazines, corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans,
steel cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic soda and water bottles,
plastic milk and detergent jugs, and plastic bags.
The other major drop-off
location is at the Anchorage Regional Landfill in Eagle River.
This site is usually open from 7:30am – 5pm Monday to Friday,
and 8am – 5pm Saturday, and accepts newspaper, mixed paper, corrugated
cardboard, aluminum cans and glass bottles and jars.
Other public drop-off
sites include all Carrs locations in Anchorage and Eagle River; Brown
Jug Warehouse; Inlet View, Lake Otis, Northwood, and Wonder Park
Elementary Schools; and Mears Middle School, although each of these
locations accepts only certain items.
How Do I Recycle In
The Valley?
It’s easy! The Valley
Community Recycling Solutions (VCRS) is a nonprofit organization that
aims to educate and provide opportunities for valley residents to
reduce, reuse and recycle. Call 745-5544 or visit their website at www.valleyrecycling.org
for a full list of all that you can recycle each Saturday at the corner
of the Palmer-Wasilla Highway and 49th State Street (leading to the
Palmer landfill). Drop off your recyclables before you dump your
trash!
Why Is Sorting So
Important?
Sorting is especially
important in Alaska since we don’t have a sorting facility.
We all have to do our part to bring the cleanest material we can
to the drop-off areas and learn how to “Recycle It Right.”
What Do Those Numbers
And Initials On Plastic Containers Mean?
Almost all plastic
containers have a small symbol on the bottom indicating the type of
plastic resin it is made of. Although
the symbol includes a small recycling loop, along with a code for the
resin and its assigned number, the symbol does not mean the container is
recyclable – only that it is made of that particular resin, to aid in
recycling sorting. In
Anchorage, only #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) containers are recyclable and
these must be bottles or jugs. No
tubs, lids, or clamshell-type containers are recyclable. The
container’s neck must be narrower than the base to be recyclable.
Therefore, please recycle only soda and water bottles, and milk
and detergent jugs. Other
items will contaminate the recycling system.
What’s The
Difference Between Aluminum And Steel?
Aluminum is a nonferrous
metal, meaning it contains no iron and will not stick to a magnet.
Most soda and juice cans are made of aluminum.
Steel cans (often referred to as tin cans) are ferrous metal,
containing iron. These cans,
typically food cans, will stick to a magnet.
This can help the sorting process.
How Can I Recycle
Other Materials?
If you have other items
that you would like to donate for reuse, or for more details about where
to recycle or how to sort recyclables properly, here are some excellent
resources that can help:
