Plastics

Americans generated 33 million tons of plastics in 2014, about 13 percent of the waste stream. Only 9.5% of plastics were recycled in 2013. Gallatin’s recycling program accepts some, but not all, types of plastics.

Plastic Resin Codes

Generally, if the code reads 1 or 2 it can be recycled; however, the code number on the bottom of your product is not a reliable indicator of whether something can get recycled. Recycle by shape! Bottles, jars, and jugs – is the best way to know what is
Plastic resin codes
Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot, List presentation with summaries of each

Cleanliness is Essential

Soiled or dirty recyclables can contaminate an entire load, containing thousands of pounds of collected plastics. This can cause hundreds of pounds of recyclable items to go to a landfill instead of being recycled. Your help with depositing only clean recyclables is essential. 

Acceptable Items Include

  • Soda, water, shampoo, and soap bottles
  • Milk, laundry detergent, and cat litter jugs
  • Juice bottles

Unacceptable Items

  • No plastic bags, plastic lids or caps
  • No Styrofoam, plastic shrink wrap
  • No plastic toys or plastic toothpaste type tubes
  • No "K-cups" or individual coffee creamers
  • No plastic marked as PLA, compostable or made from plant based materials
  • No plastic containers larger than three gallons in size