County residents will be able to recycle clean plastic nursery flats, plant labels, hay bale wrap, drip tape, strapping, tarps, reemay row cover, and possibly more at the county’s fourth series of agricultural plastics recycling collection events, co-sponsored by San Juan County Public Works, San Juan County Fair, WSU Master Gardeners/Ag Program, San Juan Islands Conservation District, and the Agricultural Resources Committee.
The event will be on Orcas on Monday, Oct. 4, time to be determined, at the Solid Waste facility; on Lopez on Thursday, Oct. 7, time to be determined, at the Solid Waste facility; and on San Juan on Saturday, Oct. 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the County Fairgrounds, along with a Flea Market and Swap Meet.
“Please don’t throw all those nursery pots away! You can give them a second life by recycling them this October on the Islands,” say organizers.
Recycled agricultural plastics are re-used in the manufacture of truck bed liners, black plastic landscape supplies, drain pipe, plastic lumber for benches, posts and pilings, pallets, automotive components, tool handles and black trash bags. Organizers say more than 26 tons of agricultural plastics have been recycled from San Juan County since 2007.
Residents who want to help keep resources out of the landfill and don’t want to wait until the fall have the option of hauling these materials to Skagit River Steel and Recycling in Burlington, but are advised to call first (800-869-7097) to find out if there‚Äôs a recycling fee.
Another opportunity for re-use of plastic nursery pots and flats is offered on San Juan Island at Site Elements’ “Community Nursery Container Exchange” and on Orcas Island Driftwood Nursery accepts flats only (NO pots) for reuse.
“Please, take care to respect these businesses by not depositing anything else,” organizers say. “Burning plastics is not a disposal option! It is illegal and creates highly toxic fumes that are especially harmful to people with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory/cardiac problems.”
For more specifics on how to prepare your agricultural plastics for recycling and on the health risks of improper disposal of plastics, please refer to the websites of the sponsoring organizations, or call 370-0503.
