How Many Times Can Paper Be Recycled?

Experts have determined that upwards of 76 percent of paper mills used some recovered paper in 2011, so the paper you throw into the bin is finding its way into plenty of new products.  The latest statistics are even higher.

The grade of paper is determined by fiber length, which shortens after each trip through the recycling process. After being recycled five to seven times, the fibers become too short to make new paper and will need to be mixed with new, un-recycled fibers. 

Are Recyclables Picked Up With Our Trash Truck?

Borden Waste-Away Service, Inc. services both trash and recycling but they are never picked up together in the same truck.

After Borden trucks pick up recycling anywhere in our service area, it is then taken directly to our Recycling Works plant where it is hand and mechanically sorted into separate commodities.

Recycling Works, our company-owned state-of-the-art recycling facility here in Elkhart, operates as a “Clean MRF” (pronounced “Merf” and stands for Materials Recycling Facility), which means that we recycle over 90% of the material entering the facility. A state mandate stipulates that any more trash than that would put us into the category of a Transfer Station.

If It Is Single Stream Recycling, Why Are There Separate Bins At Drop-Off Centers?

Single Stream recycling, also called "Fully Commingled" or "Single Sort", is a process by which all recyclable items are collected together in a single truck instead of being separated into different bins by the depositor. The sorting processes in place then support the commingled materials and separate them into commodity types.

Are Straws And Plastic Utensils Recyclable?

Generally, recyclable items have a triangle on them with a number inside which specifically lets you
know that it is, indeed, recyclable. There are some exceptions to this rule with items that are actually recyclable items.

Are Pizza Boxes Recyclable?

Pizza boxes are made of cardboard so they should be recyclable, right? Well, yes and no. Although
most, if not all, recycling centers accept corrugated cardboard, it's actually the grease residue on the box that makes part, if not all of it, a trash item.

Is Shredded Paper Recyclable?

Shredded paper is recyclable in any recycling process that accepts paper in their recycling bins.
There are, however, a few things we need to keep in mind as we put shredded paper into our recycling.

Are Cassette Tapes And VCR Tapes Recyclable?

Cassette tapes and VCR tapes are a type of magnetic media, not unlike the ever-nostalgic floppy disk. This type of media storage uses a thin Mylar tape enclosed by some type of plastic casing. The casing is generally a recyclable item, but the tape is not.