Yep mixed plastics can be recycled!

Facilities called MRFs (Material Recovery Facilities) scatter the Salt Lake valley. There are even locations in Davis, Weber and Utah Counties. These locations are the recycling facilities that handle your curbside recycling bins and are not open to the public. Vendors can set up accounts and drop off large amounts of mixed recyclables such as mixed plastic. Junk Removal companies should be encouraged to investigate this method for handling sorted waste, as careless landfilling of potential recyclables is avoidable.

If you are paying a Junk Removal company, they should be offering to do more than just landfill for you. Chuck It Junk Removal has relationships with Wasatch Recovery Facility and with Rocky Mountain Recycling Facility. Chuck It even works with vendors and plastic manufacturers as well to supply recycled plastic back to them. Chuck It is a member of the Utah Recycle Alliance, and as a regular volunteers and sponsors, it allows access to the many plastic connections generated.

The different plastics are:

1. PET – typically a clear plastic, found in a lot of bottles.
2. HDPE – stands for High-Density Polyethylene. It is a type of plastic known for its strength, durability, and resistance to impact and chemicals. HDPE is commonly used in a variety of applications, notably milk jugs, waste bins, water storage barrels, etc.
3. PVC – can be rigid or flexible, depending on its formulation, commonly used in construction. It’s important to note that while PVC is useful, it can release harmful chemicals when burned, so proper disposal and recycling practices are essential.
4. LDPE – known for its flexibility and low-density structure, which makes it suitable for a variety of applications. Common uses of LDPE include plastic bags, packaging, plastic wrap, etc.
5. PP – Polypropylene is known for its strength, durability, and resistance to heat and chemicals. It has a wide range of applications. Used in dining plastics. Your plastic Starbucks or gas station soda cup are PP.
6. PS – Polystyrene is a versatile plastic that can be solid or foamed, and it has a wide range of applications. Commonly used as styrofoam in packaging.
7. Other – The other types of plastics vary, so recycle on #7 is challenging, but not impossible. Chuck It has outlets for every type of plastic, including the challenging #7 “Other” plastics.

If interested in information on the outlets for the varying plastics, feel free to reach out to Chuck It and ask for Will. Will sits as VP of recycling non-profits in the area and loves talking waste recycle. In educating the public, Will hopes to earn more business. Please refer to your friends and family Chuck It Junk Removal to support their efforts.