{"id":111965,"date":"2015-06-04T03:49:02","date_gmt":"2015-06-04T09:49:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/landfill-to-offer-plastic-recycling\/"},"modified":"2015-06-04T03:49:02","modified_gmt":"2015-06-04T09:49:02","slug":"landfill-to-offer-plastic-recycling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/landfill-to-offer-plastic-recycling\/","title":{"rendered":"Landfill to offer plastic recycling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Courtesy
Courtesy photo<br><br>Students from Southwest Open High pose on top of a bale of recycled plastic at the Montezuma County landfill. The test bale proved plastics can withstand the baling process, and now the landfill plans to offer plastic recycling.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Students at Southwest Open High have expanded recycling opportunities in the county.<\/p>\n

The students have been collecting No. 1 and No. 2 plastics to test whether they can be recycled locally.<\/p>\n

On Friday, they hit a milestone when they proved the plastics can be successfully baled during test at the Montezuma County landfill.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt went really well; the students were thrilled,\u201d said Casey Simpson, a SWOS teacher and recycling advocate. \u201cWe collected 1,300 pounds of plastic for the test bale.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was thought that plastics could not be baled because when crushed they keep their shape and blow out of the baler straps. As a result plastic recycling has not been available locally, but that is about to change.<\/p>\n

The students proved you can get a bale of plastic to stay together, said landfill manager Shak Powers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey deserve a lot of credit for recognizing a problem, rolling up their sleeves, and doing something about it,\u201d Powers said.<\/p>\n

The landfill will soon be accepting No. 1 and No.2 plastics from residents, he said, but the details are still being worked out.<\/p>\n

The type of plastic is printed on products.<\/p>\n

No. 1 plastics include containers for water, soda, mouthwash, salad dressing, and peanut butter.<\/p>\n

No. 2 plastics include milk jugs, juice bottles, detergent and household cleaner bottles, shampoo bottles, trash and grocery bags, and motor oil bottles.<\/p>\n

The landfill will be paying recyclers current market value for the plastics, minus $40 it takes to bale.<\/p>\n

The plastics they will accept have a market price of $140 per ton. After baling costs, it works out to 5 cents per pound.<\/p>\n

As part of an effort to become a regional recycling hub, the county revamped operations to utilize an industrial baler for the sole purpose of recycling. The landfill is working on a plan with local haulers to offer curb side recycling service in the county, and also in Mancos and Dolores.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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