By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
LAMBERTVILLE — The city’s new recycling program has gotten off to a good start, but some residents still have questions about the types of materials that are acceptable.
Lambertville officially began accepting plastics and cardboard for the first time last month. Also for the first time, residents can combine all recyclables in one container.
”So far, so good,” said Environmental Commission Chairwoman Piper Trelstad. “But I think we’ve got a lot of education we need to do.”
For example, some residents have wondered if they can recycle the caps that come with plastic bottles and containers. They also want to know if all types of plastics and cardboard are accepted.
The answers are no and no.
In the case of plastic caps, they often are not made of the same type of plastic as the container they came with, and they should not be discarded in the recycling container.
However, “it’s not the end of the world if one gets in there,” Ms. Trelstad said.
Also excluded is laminated or coated cardboard.
Another unacceptable item is shredded paper. It gets tangled with other materials, especially glass, and is too difficult to separate, Ms. Trelstad said.
Residents who ignore these guidelines could find a note from the Public Works Department stuck to their recycling container, advising them why their load was not picked up.
The city will accept plastics labeled with the codes 1 through 7. The American Chemistry Council offers a chart that explains the types of plastics represented by each number at www.americanchemistry.com/s_plastics/bin.asp?CID=1102&DID=4645&DOC=FILE.PDF.
In general, No. 1 includes containers for such food items as peanut butter, jelly, water and soda bottles as well as mouthwash containers.
No. 2 includes milk and water bottles, laundry detergent jugs, shampoo bottles and cereal box liners.
No. 3 includes clamshells and shrink wrap.
No. 4 includes bags that hold dry cleaning, bread, newspapers, frozen foods and squeezable bottles such as the ones that contain honey or mustard.
No. 5 includes containers for yogurt and margarine and bottles for ketchup and syrup.
No. 6 includes such food items as plastic cups, plates and cutlery, meat and poultry trays, packing “peanuts,” aspirin bottles and compact disc cases.
No. 7 includes 3- and 5-gallon water bottles and some juice and ketchup bottles.
