Beyond the Bin: Diverting Plastics from Landfills

Written by Marilyn Godfrey and Cathy Holbrook of the Sustainable Solutions Group of Newberg-Dundee.

Are you drowning in plastic? Our local trash service recycles many plastics; however, some cannot be recycled in curbside bins.

The Sustainable Solutions of Newberg-Dundee is working with Zero Waste McMinnville to recycle difficult-to-recycle items such as pill bottles, plastic bottle caps, screwable lids, plastic straws, utensils, and bread clips. All clean, numbered plastics (except No. 7) and Styrofoam are accepted.

Every three months, the Sustainable Solutions group conducts a collection event late on a Friday afternoon. The following day, the collected materials are transported to a larger collection event in McMinnville. (learn more at zerowastemcminnville.com)

The group started small a year and a half ago with just eight grocery bags full of recycling. Last month, the group transported three full cars plus a large van filled with plastics and Styrofoam to McMinnville.

On collection day in McMinnville, community members turn in bags of plastics sorted by number or type. Zero Waste volunteers check and double-check all bags to ensure items are sorted correctly.

Zero Waste requests donations of $4 per grocery bag of plastic. The organization sends all sorted plastics to James Recycling in Beaverton (jshrecycling.com), which has found markets for these items. Remaking plastic into usable items is a win-win.

At the same McMinnville event, Green Century of Portland personnel collect all Styrofoam, including Styrofoam cups, packing peanuts, takeout containers, meat trays, egg cartons, and blocks of Styrofoam. These items are compressed so they can be repurposed. There is a $10 charge for each 45-gallon bag of Styrofoam. Green Century in North Portland accepts other clean plastics at its facility as well.

This is a labor-intensive weekend, brightened by a feeling of purpose in rescuing plastics that would otherwise go to the landfill. Sustainable Solutions welcomes community volunteers, including high school and college students who want to fulfill community service requirements.

New Seasons Market locations in Portland and Beaverton accept clear No. 1 plastic at no charge. Recycling bins are located in front of the stores. Everyone is encouraged to take these items to a New Seasons Market if heading that way.

While the volunteers in Newberg and McMinnville are making a herculean effort to keep plastics out of the landfill, the collected amount is merely a drop in the worldwide bucket.

In the motto “Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle,” “Recycle” is purposely listed last because we must first rethink our consumption in order to reduce plastic use and avoid the work and expense of recycling.

As Earth Day approaches, let’s rethink our shopping habits to avoid excess packaging. This includes using reusable items such as travel mugs for coffee, reusable water bottles, reusable straws, and shampoo and conditioner bars.

Sustainable Solutions of Newberg-Dundee will conduct its next collection event on Friday, May 2, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 1205 Deborah Road, Newberg, Oregon. For more information, see the Sustainable Solutions Facebook page and the Plastic Project of Zero Waste McMinnville.

Sustainable Solutions Group of the Newberg-Dundee Area’s mission is to build a broad coalition of community partners to provide leadership, collaboration, and guidance on actions that will reduce our community’s greenhouse gas emissions and increase our community’s resiliency. We are a real group that meets monthly in person in Newberg, Oregon. Check the group’s Facebook page about our monthly meeting dates and times, as they occasionally change.