Placitas Recycling Center

PLACITAS RECYCLING CENTER HOME   WHAT WE RECYCLE   RECYCLING NEWS   ADDITIONAL RECYCLING INFO   RECYCLING MADE EASY    CONTACT INFOMATION  

Recycling made easy

—Robin Brandin
Placitas Recycling Center

The Placitas Recycling Center is constantly looking for new markets that enable it to expand the materials accepted for recycling. A new buyer was recently found for recycled plastics. Taking maximum advantage of recycling opportunities, however, means being careful about what is placed in each of the containers at the center. The new buyer, for example, will only accept #1 and #2 plastics.

Not everyone knows that the Placitas Recycling Center is operated by a community-based nonprofit organization, not by a government entity, and is completely staffed by volunteers. The volunteers depend on help from the community to continue providing this service that is so important to the health of the environment.

Following are a few tips that will make your recycling experience go more smoothly and help the volunteers at the center manage the materials better:

  • Unlike recycling centers in some other communities, the Placitas Recycling Center has no ability to separate materials and depends on users to bring in the materials already segregated. Please take the time to sort your materials correctly.
  • One of the biggest challenges the center faces, especially in the summer, is keeping vermin out. You can help by rinsing out cans and plastic bottles. And please, no pizza containers or food-stained cardboard boxes!
  • Please break down and flatten cardboard boxes.
  • Advertisement slicks that come in newspapers do not need to be removed, but please separate out any kraft paper inserts, both brown and white. Those can be recycled with the cardboard.
  • There are two types of containers for paper on a trailer at the center. The large brown cardboard boxes are for mixed paper, which includes almost anything except phone books, egg cartons, paper towels, napkins, tissues, waxed paper, and stickers. The large black collection bins are only for white paper and light-colored office paper.
  • The only metal the center can accept is aluminum, including cans, containers, and foil, but not aerosol cans. Again, please rinse off any food.
  • Only plastic that is marked as #1 or #2 is recyclable, but now the center can accept all colors, not just clear items. No plastic bags. Please remove the tops from plastic bottles.
  • The center only accepts rechargeable batteries, no lead or acid batteries.
  • Other items that can be recycled at the center include ink-jet and laser-jet cartridges, and packing peanuts double-bagged and tied off securely. Shredded packing paper can be placed in the office paper bins.
  • The center is still not able to accept glass.

Fliers with a more detailed list of the materials that are and are not accepted are available at the Placitas Recycling Center. Additional volunteers are always needed and are invited to sign up at the center (or click here to send e-mail). The Placitas Recycling Center is on Highway 165, just east of Interstate 25, and is open every Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Reprinted from the Sandoval Signpost

 

PLACITAS RECYCLING CENTER HOME   WHAT WE RECYCLE   RECYCLING NEWS   ADDITIONAL RECYCLING INFO   RECYCLING MADE EASY    CONTACT INFOMATION