League of Women Voters of the Rochelle Area

    RECYCLING GUIDE (2004)
    (Disposal Chart follows Narrative)
Click here for information regarding recycling materials
Click here for recycling facts
Click here for recycling disposal chart
 INFORMATION

Plastics

Have you ever wondered about the numbers that appear on the plastic products you buy?  These numbers are the result of many plastic manufacturer efforts to make separating plastics easier for consumers and recyclers.  These numbers indicate the type of plastic that is used to make the item.
#1 PET or PETE: Polyethylene Terephthalate - Includes about 30% of all plastic bottles.  Common uses include water bottles, juice bottles, cooking oil bottles, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, clear plastic alcohol beverage bottles, and food jars.
#2 HEPE: High Density Polyethylene - The most used consumer plastic.  Clear HDPE is used to create materials such as milk jugs, grocery bags, and vinegar bottles.  Colored HDPE is used for items to contain motor oil, antifreeze, and bleach.
#3 PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride - Used for plastic bottles but also commonly used for plastic pipe, sheet plastics, flooring, shower curtains, house siding and many other plastic construction materials.
#4 LDPE Low Density Polyethylene - Primarily used for plastic film, cellophane wrap, disposable diapers, and toys.
#5 - PP Polypropylene - Is used for packaging materials.  PP isn’t used very much anymore by plastic manufacturers because of the dangerous toxins this material may contain
#6 PS Polystyrene - One of the most useful plastics.  It is often used to make coffee cups and takeout food packaging.  It is also used as insulation, plastic “wood”, and plastic pens.

Paper or Plastic?
Given the choice, ask for paper.  Plastic bags are made from petroleum products that are non-renewable.  Paper is a renewable resource.  Of course the best choice of all would be to use a canvas bag.  If you must take plastic, recycle your plastic bags at Walmart.

Paper and Cardboard
*Nationwide only 45% of paper was recycled in 2000.
*Recycling ½ of the magazines in Rochelle would save about 44 garbage truckloads of space in the landfill in a year’s time.
*40% of a landfill is paper.

Newspaper/Magazines/Catalogues/Cardboard/Mixed Paper is all recyclable.  Phone books may also be recycled.  The only paper products that CANNOT be recycled are food contaminated paper, waxed paper, oil soaked paper, sanitary products or tissues, terminal fax paper, fast food wrappers, and pet good bags.

Aluminum and Steel
*20 aluminum cans can be made from recycled materials for the same amount of energy it takes to produce one new can.

Food/beverage cans, lids, rinsed soda cans, aluminum foil, pie plates, baking pans-tins, paint cans without paint residue, and empty aerosol cans can all be recycled.  Scrap metal cannot be recycled, but can be taken to any local junkyard such as Lunardon Wrecking (562-4530).  Pop can tabs are often collected by service groups and schools with proceeds going to some type of charity ie: Ronald McDonald House.

Glass

Clear, green and brown glass can all be recycled, although clear glass is the most valuable.  Recyclable glass items include food and beverage containers, bottles, and jars.  Glass that is not recyclable includes broken glass, window glass, light bulbs, mirrors, ceramic, porcelain, dishes, tableware, and drinking glasses. Eye glasses can be recycled at the Family Vision Center.

Electronics

Electronic waste contains many hazardous components that can harm the environment if not disposed of properly.  If still functioning, electronics can be donated to schools, organizations, or to Rockford Rescue Mart.  Cell phones can be dropped off at any Sprint PCS Store.  They are programmed to dial 911 and given to people in abusive relationships.  Electronic Collection Days are free events that recycle old electronic items.  Items recycled on a collection day are computers, printers, monitors, keyboards, scanners, telephone, answering machines, cell phones, pagers, calculators, typewriters, TV’s/VCR’s, cameras, camcorders, and rechargeable batteries.  Electronic Collection Days occur annually in Ogle or Lee Counties.  The dates and locations of collection days are published in the paper or can be found by calling the Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department at (815)732-4020.

Motor Oil

Used motor oil can be taken to Auto Zone in Rochelle.  They will accept 5 gallons each month per household.  

Large Appliances

Appliances can be taken to B and W Appliance (562-6253) in Rochelle.  Call first.  There will be a fee changed.  Most older refrigerators, heat pumps, and air conditioners contain freon, a chemical known as a Clorinated Fluorocarbon or CFC.  One molecule of CFC can destroy over 100,000 molecules in the Earth’s ozone layer, leading to increased risk of sunburn, cataracts, and skin cancers.  Be certain that when recycling an appliance the CFC’s are drained out and recycled.  Rochelle has a curbside pick-up service operated by the city.  Call ahead to make arrangements for a pick-up.

Tires

Tires are best recycled.  Alderks Tire Company (562-4644) charges a $2 fee per car tire.  This small fee required to dispose of your used tires is well worth it.  If tires are improperly disposed of, they tend to rise to the top of landfills where they breed mosquitoes and spread disease.

Household Toxins

Containers for household toxins ca not be recycled.  Toxins and their containers must be disposed of properly.  Materials are considered hazardous if they are toxic, flammable, corrosive, or an irritant.  Labels on the containers should notify you of the hazardous chemicals in a product.  Chemicals and household toxins must never be dumped into storm drains because they normally empty untreated into rivers and lakes.  Once a year Ogle and Lee Counties have hazardous waste collection days.  These collections are free and are on Saturdays.  All wastes are handled, transported, and disposed of properly by a licensed contractor.  

Recycling Facts

*If everyone in Rochelle recycled the Sunday newspaper, 18 trees would be saved each week.  That’s 962 trees a year.

* In 2000 enough aluminum cans were recycled to build 20 Golden Gate Bridges.

*In a life time an average American citizen throws away 600 times his/her adult body weight in trash, leaving 90,000 pounds for their children

* The United States throws away enough aluminum every three months to rebuild the entire commercial air fleet.

* 1/6 of the trucks in the United States are garbage trucks.

*Annually, enough energy is saved by recycling steel to supply Los Angeles with energy for almost 10 years.

* One recycled aluminum can saves enough energy to power a television or computer for 3 hours or to light a 100 watt light bulb for 20 hours.

* Everyday enough paper is recycled to fill a 15 mile train of box cars.

* A tee shirt can be made out of five recycled plastic soda bottles.

*Americans trash enough paper each year to construct a wall 12 feet high extending from New York City to Los Angeles.

Recycling Program

Item

Curbside

Ogle. County Drop-Off Center, Wal-Mart

Other

Glass containers (clear, green, brown)

Blue

Yes

No broken glass or light bulbs

Food cans (aluminum, steel, bi-metal) empty aerosol

Blue

Yes

No household toxin containers

Paperboard milk and juice cartons

Blue

No

Rinse

Disposable pie pans, aluminum foil, pastry trays

Blue

No

Rinse

Plastic (containers and bottles)

Blue #1-7

Yes

Rinse

Newspapers, magazines, computer paper, envelopes

Green

Yes #1-7

For Walmart, separate

Cereal boxes, cardboard, junk mail, shoe boxes, paper tubes, grocery bags, phone books

Green

Yes

Flatten boxes

Alkaline Batteries

No

Yes

Non-toxic place in regular trash.

Rechargeable Batteries

No

No

Contain toxic metals; recycle at Radio Shack 562-0017.

Car Batteries

No

No

Recycle at Auto Zone 562-9459.

Car tires

No

No

Recycle at Alderk’s tires; 562-4644.

Motor Oil

No

No

Recycle at Auto Zone; 562-9459.

Appliances

No

No

City pickup program - 562-6161.  B&W for a fee at 562-6253.

Clothing

No

No

Donate to Hand in Hand, Presbyterian Thrift Shop, Rockford Rescue Mart

Eye glasses

No

No

Family Vision Center; 562-7077.

Ink Cartridges

No

No

Donate to RTHS; the high school earns $1 per cartridge.

Electronics

No

No

Ogle County Collection Days; 732-4020.

Household Toxic Waste

No

No

Ogle county Collection Days; 732-4020.

Construction Waste/Scrap Metal

No

No

Recycle at Lunardon Wrecking; 562-4530.


This information is provided by the League of Women Voters, RTHS Honors Biology Students, and the Ogle county Solid Waste Department.