Recycling Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• How do I get a blue bin?

  Blue bins are available at the Town Hall for $6.50. You do not need a Town-issued bin for your cans and bottles. Use any durable container – an old laundry basket, bucket, cardboard box or trash can (but label the trash can clearly so the hauler knows it contains recyclables, not trash.)

• Does the Town supply trash cans?

  No. You are responsible for supplying your own trash can. Depending on your service level, 20-gallon and 35-gallon trash cans are available at the local hardware stores - Mansfield Supply, 1527 Storrs Road, Thompson's, 54 Middle Turnpike, and Willard's, 1753 Storrs Road. Using trash cans that are larger than 35-gallon for the one-can, standard or maxi services is not permitted.

• Why can’t I recycle plastic bags with the cans and bottles?

  Plastic bags are considered a contaminant at Willimantic Waste Paper, where our recyclables are sorted and shipped to various product markets. The plastic bags have to be manually removed from the other recyclables, otherwise they can get caught in the sorting equipment causing a shut down of the operation.

• Why can’t I use plastic bags to hold paper for recycling?

  Paper bags can be recycled with the paper contained within. If your paper items are in a plastic bag, the plastic must be removed before the paper can be recycled. If you do not have enough paper bags, you may tie your paper with string or place it in a small cardboard box (no larger than 2’ x 2’ x 1’) that closes.

• How do I dispose of shredded paper?

  Shredded paper can be recycled. Place it in a paper bag. Staple or tape the top closed.

• How do I recycle plastic grocery bags?

  There is a recycling collection container for plastic grocery bags at the transfer station. Stop & Shop also accepts plastic grocery bags for recycling. Plastic grocery bags are recycled into plastic lumber, which the demand for these products continues to grow. Consider keeping a few reusable canvas grocery bags in your car and using them when you shop. Reusable grocery bags are available at the Town Hall for $2 per bag. Call 429-3333.

• We can recycle paperboard milk cartons and drink boxes, why not other types of plastic-coated cardboard, like ice cream boxes or margarine boxes?

  The answer lies with how these products are made. Drink boxes, milk and juice cartons are made out of paper with a thin plastic film on top. The plastic layer contains all the dyes of the label; underneath is clean, bleached cardboard. Frozen dinner entrees, ice cream boxes, butter boxes and other plastic coated cardboard packaging have the dyes applied to the cardboard and a clear plastic seal on top. In order to recycle the paper, the dyes need to be removed (“de-inked”) making it less desirable for the paper manufacturer. Because the paper from cartons and drink boxes is free of dyes, there is no de-inking needed, saving one step in the process.

• Why can’t I recycle pizza boxes?

  You can - but just the box – not leftover pizza. The paper we contribute for recycling will be made into new paper. Food waste mixed in with any recyclable item is considered a contaminant, degrading the quality of the paper. Flatten and turn the pizza box inside out so the recycler can see that it is cardboard free of cheese, pizza slices and oil. If the box is too soiled with grease it can always be composted (with the uneaten slices of pizza).