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Recycling bins have one simple job: collecting recyclables. Somewhere along the way, though, they’ve been mistaken for donation centers, garbage cans, and occasionally the final resting place for household items that have clearly lived long, adventurous lives. Old garden hoses, broken lawn chairs, faded kiddie pools, mysterious buckets with lids permanently sealed by the passage of time -- you name it, someone has tried to recycle it. Unfortunately, recycling trucks don’t come equipped with magical sorting elves or a machine that can turn every oddball item into something useful. When those surprises arrive at the recycling facility, real people have to stop what they’re doing, pull them out by hand, and figure out what to do with them.
This not only slows down the entire recycling process but also increases the costs associated with managing waste. It's a common misconception that if an item is made of plastic or metal, it automatically belongs in the recycling bin. However, recycling requires a more thoughtful approach. Each item should be clean and free of contaminants, and it should fit the specific guidelines set by local recycling programs.
There are very little plastic items that can actually be recycled. These nonrecyclable items must be thrown into the trash. If a resident doesn't have enough room in their trash can, items can be added each week until gone or cut up depending on what it is and thrown into the trash. Residents can also self-haul to the landfill in Lyon County, which is open six days a week.
Awareness is key in combating this issue. Those who use these types of community recycling drop sites need to be aware that these containers in Lyon County are for paper, flattened cardboard and clean, empty food or beverage containers. Personal care containers such laundry detergent, shampoo bottles or lotion bottles that are empty, can also be recycled.
Other commonly found plastic items that seem to make it into recycling that are not recyclable through carts or community recycling drop sites include: Styrofoam, totes, laundry baskets, empty rv fluid containers, oil containers, empty ag jugs, tarps, other chemical containers from lawn and garden activities or plastic flower pots and of course, toys. Never go by the chasing triangle logo on plastic items with the number in it. This only tells us what kind of plastic an item is made from.
For the homeowner, this resin code is meaningless. A good example is number 5 clamshell food container is recyclable while a number 5 kiddie pool is never recyclable and is trash only.
Residents may ask why certain items are or are not recyclable and it has to do with the end markets of the items that we can recycle. No end market means no to any given item being that is being attempted to be recycled. We look for outside markets for items that can be recycled and that is why we can take certain items but outside of the community recycling drop sites and outside of the curbside recycling programs. There are outside the cart and community recycling drop site recycling avenues for some of these items that cannot go into carts or drop sites which may require residents to bring them to the Household Hazardous Waste facility in Marshall. A quick call ahead can help a resident to understand which facility will take certain items for disposal.
Communities can benefit from making sure that the community-recycling drop sites are kept clean for everyone to use. We all need to be responsible for the up keep and use of these important community areas. By working together, we can ensure that recycling bins fulfill their intended purpose and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable environment.
So next time you’re about to toss something questionable into the recycling bin, take a moment to consider if it truly belongs there. Your efforts can make a big difference in preserving our planet for future generations.
For more information, you can find the curbside calendars and recycling guides listed on the Lyon County, Minnesota website which is at www.lyoncountymn.gov or call the Lyon County Environmental Department at (507) 532-8210.