Chalice Art by Selma Blackburn

Recycling In Little Rock From the March 1999 Outer Circle

   A recent informal survey of UUCLR members showed that many of us are, um, er, not totally sure about what we're supposed to put in Little Rock's curbside recycling bins.  It's hard to promote global environmental concerns if you're not quite sure how to put out your own trash, so we thought it would be a good idea to phone Recycle America for a refresher course.  (We plan to look at the recycling arrangements in communities other than Little Rock in future months.)
Here's what we learned:

The Big Picture

   Metal, glass and plastic containers can be loose or mixed together in the bin.  All should be rinsed clean.  To save space, flatten plastic containers by stomping on them.

bulletAll paper should be put in brown paper grocery bags.  Hold back paper on rainy days.
bulletCorrugated cardboard is the only type of cardboard that is accepted.
bulletRinse out your recycling bin every once in a while.

The Specifics

bulletGlass:  Clear, green and brown bottles and jars are O.K.  Remove lids, caps and metal neck rings.  No drinking glasses, pottery, window glass or mirrors.
bulletPlastics:  Must be either totally see-through like a water or coke bottle or a green sprite bottle, or semi-transparent, like many plastic milk jugs.  Plastic containers that do not let any light through cannot be accepted.  Labels are OK.  Remove lids, caps, and metal neck rings.  No plastic bags or plastic film.
bulletMetals:  Food, pet food and beverage containers made of steel, tin, and aluminum are accepted.  All food residue should be rinsed off.  Please note:  Do NOT crush beverage cans (it confuses sorting machinery), and do NOT recycle disposable aluminum pans (they used to be accepted, but no longer.)
bulletLids and Tops:  Recycle metal tops from metal cans such as soup or pet food cans (just put them inside the can after rinsing), and recycle metal screw-on lids from glass jars.
bulletPaper:  Newspapers - including all inserts - should be put in brown paper grocery bags, separate from other types of paper.  White paper (e.g., computer paper, "office" paper) can be mixed in with catalogs and magazines and should also be put in brown paper grocery bags.  No carbon paper, plastic film, plastic bags, or paper bags other than brown grocery bags.
bulletCardboard:  Only corrugated cardboard is accepted, and it must be clean and flattened.  No cereal boxes, cardboard six-pack beverage carriers, or other paper board.

For more information about recycling:  Contact Ms. Maureen Rose at Recycle America, 490-0773, who was the source for this summary.  Recycle America is a service of Waste Management of Arkansas.