Tucson Recycles Now Accepting Rigid Plastics In Blue Barrel

Mayor Robert Walkup and the City of Tucson Environmental Services Department (ES) are excited to announce new opportunities for Tucsonans to recycle.  Beginning in November, Tucsonans will be able to put rigid plastics in their blue barrel for recycling. Mayor Walkup will be introducing the program expansion and proclaiming the week of November 8th Tucson Recycles Week.


Tucson Recycles has worked with Waste Management to increase the types of plastics accepted for recycling. These new items are rigid plastics and include: outdoor toys like playhouses, plastic
milk/soda crates, plastic laundry baskets, plastic buckets, plastic flower pots and nursery trays, plastic garbage cans, plastic dish drainers, five-gallon water bottles, plastic ice chests, plastic furniture, and much more. These materials must be placed in the blue barrel with the lid closed.
          
“The addition of rigid plastics to the recycling stream is a welcome and positive change to the Tucson Recycles Program,” said Francis LaSala, recycling program manager. “Up until now, the only household plastics accepted were #1 and #2 plastic bottles and jugs. We expect to increase our tonnages with the addition of the new items and extend the life of the Los Reales Landfill.”
          
Mayor Walkup and Waste Management partners will announce the program expansion to local media on Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 10:30 a.m., at the Waste Management Materials Recovery Facility located
at 3909 N. Runway Drive in Tucson.   Information about rigid plastics recycling is available on the web at www.tucsonrecycles.org.