Types of Plastic That Can Be Recycled
Weston's Transfer Station takes rigid plastic #1 - #7 (lids, caps, and rings, too) and they don't need to be sorted. Please rinse clean containers and bottles before placing them in the plastic hopper. Dirty containers contaminate the load, making it unrecyclable.
No Wraps or Plastic Bags - but these are recyclable, too!
Yes, plastic bags (for grocery, dry cleaning, food storage, etc.) and wraps (for newspaper, paper towels/napkins packaging) can be recycled, but the reason why they cannot be included in with rigid plastic recycling is that they jam up the grinders, breaking the machines, and spoil the load. Many grocery stores, home improvement stores, and retailers accept plastic bags and wraps for recycling. Look for the bins near the entrances of these shops. The collection load is much larger at a retail location than at the Transfer Station, which is more desirable for buyers. Plastic bags and wraps are recycled to create new bags and wraps and also composite decking.
More from Weston's DPW
Step Up Your Recycling - Plastics (PDF)