Five Recycling Myths

Myth: Plastic doesn't really get recycled.

Fact: Plastic bottles, jugs, containers, and tubs are widely accepted for recycling in communities across the country, and there is a strong demand for these materials.

Myth: Anything plastic can go in your recycling bin.

Fact: Know what to throw. Generally, plastic bottles with necks or handles, or plastic containers and tubs are recyclable in your curbside container. Containers with #1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 are accepted.

Myth: Plastic grocery bags can be recycled curbside.

Fact: Plastic bags require special handling to be recycled and should not go in your curbside container. Return them to collection bins at the grocery or big-box store.

Myth: You should bag your recyclables.

Fact: Recyclables should never be bagged. Place them loose in your recycling bin. Plastic bags can wrap around and jam equipment at recycling facilities, causing delays or damage.

Myth: Anything with a recycling symbol should go in your recycling bin.

Fact: The “chasing arrows” symbol generally identifies the type of plastic used in a container or indicates that an item contains recycled content, but it does not mean that an item is recyclable.

Electronics Recycling

City of College Park residents can bring electronics for recycling to the drop off box near the entrance of the front doors to Davis Hall. No more than 3 items can be disposed of at no cost. Details here.

Keep Grass Clippings off the Street

As you take care of your lawn this season, make sure to not sweep or blow grass and leaves into the street. Lawn clippings and debris that are left in the street wash into storm drains and storm sewers, potentially clogging them, which may result in flooding. Debris that washes into storm sewers is transported through local waterways and eventually to the Chesapeake Bay, threatening aquatic life and drinking water quality.

Instead, you can leave the grass clippings on the lawn to recycle the nutrients or start a compost pile in your backyard (click here for a brochure from the Maryland Department of Agriculture.) You may also place clippings in paper bags or reusable containers for weekly curbside pickup on the same day as your trash and recycling collection.

Soft Yard Waste and Woody Yard Waste

Are you confused about how to separate yard waste and the difference between soft yard waste and woody brush, and why they are collected separately? Soft yard waste and woody brush are processed independently into two different end products; therefore, these materials should be prepared separately for collection and further processing.

• Soft yard waste (grass, leaves, flowers, weeds and soft clippings that are less than ½” in diameter) is picked up year-round on your regularly scheduled collection day.
• Woody yard waste (branches, shrubs, brush, and small logs) is collected year-round on Thursday and Friday by appointment only. Please email publicworks@collegeparkmd.gov or call 240-487-3590 to schedule a collection.
• Paper bags, beige yard waste carts or reusable containers can be used to contain either of these materials set out for collection.

Grasscycling

Grasscycling is the simple practice of letting grass clippings decompose on the lawn after mowing.

• Helps protect the environment by reducing the amount of grass clippings in the landfill.
• Encourages a healthier lawn by returning both macronutrients and micronutrients to the soil in a slow-release form. Can reduce fertilizer use by 25%, saving time, and money and decreasing the amount of runoff into the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
• Eliminates the need to bag or rake grass clippings.
• Does not contribute to thatch buildup or increase turf diseases. Grass clippings are largely composed of water and decompose rapidly. Microbial decomposition of clippings occurs on soils that are maintained at a pH of 6.0 to 6.8.

Click here for more information about lawn care and maintenance from the University of Maryland Extension.