Recycling
RECYCLING 101 We may not yet have widespread curbside service in Alaska, but we do have multiple drop-off locations. Learn the recycling basics here, then scroll down to your location to learn where you can drop off your materials.
RECYCLING 101
We may not yet have widespread curbside service in Alaska, but we do have multiple drop-off locations. Learn the recycling basics here, then scroll down to your location to learn where you can drop off your materials.
NEWSPAPER: Must be dry; inserts OK. No office paper, colored paper, or cardboard.
MIXED PAPER: Must be dry; includes office paper, magazines, junk mail, soft-cover books with glue binding, manila folders, cereal boxes, phone books. No cardboard , newspaper, or soy milk-type boxes.
GLASS: Must be clean with no caps or lids, because the glass plant in Anchorage has very sensitive equipment.
CARDBOARD AND BROWN PAPER BAGS: cannot be greasy with food residue. Break down boxes first.
PLASTIC BAGS: Must be clean, without food residue. Includes grocery bags, Ziploc bags, shrink wrap, and newspaper sleeves. NO candy bar wrappers!
PLASTIC: Recycle it Right—look at the number on the bottom of your item before pitching it into the bin. If it is not a #1 or a #2, and not a bottle with a neck, it cannot be recycled in Anchorage. Remove caps and rinse out plastics before dropping them off. Don’t drop off any hazardous containers, such as those containing motor oil.
Why must they be bottles with necks? Because bottles are blow-molded and contain different chemicals to make them harden during the manufacturing process—thus they melt at a different rate than the butter tubs and other injection-molded containers. Sorry folks, at this time you cannot recycle the “clamshell” containers for bulk fruits and vegetables even if they say they are a #1 or #2 on the bottom.This is where “reduce” is so important! Check the number before you buy food items. Think about the amount of packaging that comes into your household. Purchase boxed cream cheese and butter, not the kind in plastic tubs.
STEEL (“TIN”) CANS: These must also be clean, and don’t throw them in the aluminum can bin.
ALUMINUM CANS: Aluminum cans only—no steel cans.
OTHER MATERIALS: Metals, electronics, appliances, light bulbs, clothing—scroll down for more information on where to take just about everything else!
For additional education on recycling, call ACE’s Sustainable Communities program at 907-274-3667, or our friends at any one of the following organizations: ALPAR (Alaskans for Litter Prevention And Recycling) at 907-274-3266 or www.alparalaska.com; Green Star at 907-278-7839 or www.greenstarinc.org; Total Reclaim at 907-561-0544 or www.totalreclaim.com; Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA) at http://www.ayea.org or 907-339-3910.
