Robert Haley: All Plastic Bottles OK for Recycling

How often have you spilled something on the kitchen floor because you turned a plastic bottle upside down to check the recycling number? And how often have you found a number higher than 2, causing you to throw the bottle away (and wipe up the floor as well)?

Well, spill no more, San Francisco! Thanks to an expansion of recyclables, there's no need to check the number. If it's a bottle, it's recyclable.

You've long been able to return your #1 and #2 bottles for recycling. These are made of the most easily recyclable plastics and have enjoyed a strong market for their resale. But until very recently, the remaining types of bottles - #3 through #7 - have been much harder to recycle. But because Sunset Scavenger and Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling have been working hard to develop markets for other plastics, they will now pick up these plastic bottles to be recycled, rather than sending them to a landfill.

While pick-up has expanded, the rules you'll need to follow have become simpler. Only bottles can be collected, and not plastic bags or other types of plastic containers. The key is to "check the neck." If a rigid plastic container has a neck smaller than its base, it can be recycled no matter what number is on the bottom. This includes bottles of all shapes, sizes and colors.

We still cannot accept plastic butter tubs, yogurt containers or other wide-mouth containers due to a lack of recycling markets for these plastic types.

The expansion means you can recycle all kinds of containers you may never have considered. In addition to standard items such as soda bottles and milk jugs, you can also fill your blue bin or "Fantastic Three" blue cart with plastic bottles including those for shampoo, mouthwash, aspirin, laundry detergent, cooking oil, household cleaning supplies and more.

Add these plastic bottles to the glass bottles you've always been able to recycle and get into the habit of giving us all your bottles. Please remove plastic caps, lids, pumps and sprayers (such as from cleaning supplies) - these must still be disposed in the trash. Please empty containers completely. We especially cannot accept any containers that have hazardous products residue, including automobile and garden products. For more information on the disposal of hazardous waste, visit our website at www.sfenvironment.com and click on the link for recycling information.

For a basic breakdown, this means:

BOTTLES - all plastic and glass bottles, regardless of size, shape, color or number designation. Recycle your glass jars too.

CANS - all aluminum and tin/steel cans, including empty metal aerosol and paint cans. Don't forget aluminum foil and pie tins as well.

PAPER - any paper items, including newspapers, junk mail, flattened cardboard, magazines and catalogs, office paper, flattened dry food boxes, paper bags and packaging.

In December we announced that San Francisco's rate of recycling (or diversion of items from the waste stream) is 46 percent. A state law passed nearly a decade ago requires all cities and counties to recycle at least 50 percent. We're close, but we've still got to do all we can to reach that goal and avoid possible fines.

The expansion of recycling programs in San Francisco - including accepting more items and adding organic (yard trimmings and food scraps) composting as part of the three-stream recycling program currently being rolled out across the City - are a major reason why we've been able to reach 46 percent. We thank you for your current participation and ask you to do all you can by recycling more and encouraging your friends and neighbors to do the same.

Robert Haley is the Special Projects Recycling Coordinator for the SF Department of the Environment. For more information, contact www.sfenvironment.com.