Recycling in Acton

Acton Garden Club Supports Recycling!!!!

The biggest question we face as a Club is What to do with those plastic plant pots?
Can we donate them to you?


Sorry, we cannot take them. We understand the challenge and value your desire to
reuse or recycle them. We face the same challenge.


We cannot recycle them. Most recycle sites cannot recycle them. We reuse the
pots we use for the Annual Plant Sale and recollect those after the sale. For a short
time after the plant sale, we accept pots at the ActonTransfer Station. Look for our
pink trash can at the Swap Shop.

After that you have some options:
Bring them back to the garden shop or local Lowes or Home Depot. Programs are
offered at various nurseries, particularly in the spring. Watch for notices online in
your community.
https://corporate.homedepot.com/news/sustainability/plant-it-again-plant-pot-
recycling-program
https://corporate.lowes.com/newsroom/stories/fresh-thinking/are-you-wishcycler

Other things you can do:
(https://keydifference.info/can-you-recycle-garden-pots/
Reuse pots for starting seedlings or propagating plants.
Share or donate usable pots to neighbors, schools, or community gardens
Buy biodegradable pots made from peat, coir, or paper for easier garden disposal.
Choose durable pots to extend lifespan and reduce waste.

Why can’t we recycle them? Why are flowerpots so hard to recycle?
From RecycleSmartma.org –
Since most flowerpots are made from a variety of plastic resins and are often dark
colors, we say to put them in the trash.
 
The reason it is hard to recycle dark colored plastic is because recycling facilities
sort plastics with optical sorters that use light to identify the type of plastic an item
is made of. Black plastic contains carbon that absorbs light, so the optical sorters
don’t “see” it. Very dark and black plastics end up in the trash.
 
What about white pots, you ask?  They also go in the trash. There is such a wide
variety of sizes and resin types with pots that they likely will NOT be
recycled. Please find a way to reuse them or put them in the trash.
Click on this link and learn more.
www. recyclesmartma.org

Notes on Recycling In Acton at the Transfer Station

https://www.acton-ma.gov/documentcenter/view/9419
https://www.acton-ma.gov/documentcenter/view/8817

(See: Acton-ma.gov for more information)

Paper and Cardboard

  • Must be clean: no food or grease. Pizza boxes with v small grease spot, e.g. 1 inch in diameter are OK, any larger spot cut out before recycling box. The removed greasy cardboard can go in the compostable waste bins.
  • No plastic: all paper cups and many paper plates have a plastic lining and have to go in the trash.
  • Envelopes with plastic windows are OK.
  • Staples and spiral binders are OK.
  • Wrapping paper except the foil type are OK.
  • Hard and soft back books are OK.
  • Paper envelopes padded with plastic bubble wrap must go in the trash.

Glass, Metal, Plastic and Cartons

  • Cardboard cartons such as milk and juice cartons and the rectangular cartons used for soup and broth are recycled with mixed recycling not cardboard since they contain plastic. They should be empty but no need to rinse except for thick soup containers. Do not flatten as sorting machines recognize shapes. Recycle with caps on.
  • All metal cans including empty aerosol cans are OK. Rinse before recycling. Other metal goes to scrap metal area.
  • All plastic containers with recycle numbers1 through 7 are OK. Do not flatten, caps can be on.
  • All glass bottles are OK, metal caps should be removed and placed separately in dumpster.
  • Window glass, drinking glasses and Pyrex are not accepted they go in the trash.
  • Clean aluminum foil and pie plates should be squashes into balls greater than 3 inches in diameter.
  • Clean plant pots are OK if not needed for the plant sale.

Textile Recycling

  • Many fabric items can be recycled in any state of repair. They should be clean and dry, stained items are OK but items that are mildewed are not accepted. No carpets and rugs larger than 2ft x 4ft. No foam products. See town web site for more details.

Batteries

  • Alkaline batteries can go in the trash. Button/disc batteries and rechargeable batteries should be taken to the office at the Transfer Station.

CDs/ DVDs

  • CDs and DVDs go in the trash. Their plastic cases can go to the hard plastic area.

Food Waste

  • All food waste and many paper products such as tissues and kitchen roll can be put in these bins. A full list of what is and is not acceptable is on the town web site.

Other Recyclables to Specified Areas

  • Styrofoam
  • Scrap metal
  • Electronic Waste
  • Fluorescent Bulbs

Plastic Film recycling

  • Plastic bags are not recycled at the Acton Transfer Station. They can be placed in boxes that are available at most grocery stores. Search “plastic film recycling” on the web to find more information.