Contributed by Helen Venada, SJC Solid Waste Division
Free Agricultural Plastics Recycling Events – San Juan County
Please don’t throw all those nursery pots away! You can give them a second life by recycling them this October on the Islands. You’ll also be able to recycle CLEAN plastic nursery flats, plant labels, hay bale wrap, drip tape, strapping, tarps, reemay row cover, and possibly more (depending on fall markets)! “Clean” means dry and free of loose dirt, hay, etc.
Mark your calendars! San Juan County Public Works, San Juan County Fair, WSU Master Gardeners/Ag Program, San Juan Islands Conservation District, and the Agricultural Resources Committee are co-sponsoring the Islands’ fourth series of “agricultural plastics” recycling collection events:
ORCAS: Monday, October 4th, time to be determined, Solid Waste facility
LOPEZ: Thursday, October 7th, time to be determined, Solid Waste facility
SAN JUAN: Saturday, October 9th, 9am to 1pm, County Fairgrounds
[You’ll be hearing more about the October 9th county-wide “Flea Market / Swap Meet / Agricultural Plastics Recycling” combination event in the near future.]
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. More than 26 tons of agricultural plastics have been recycled from San Juan County since 2007!
If you want to help the cause (of keeping resources out of the landfill) and don’t want to wait until the fall, you have the option of hauling these materials to Skagit River Steel and Recycling in Burlington ; call first (800-869-7097) to find out if there’s 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 and to maintain neatness.
Please remember: 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 ag 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.
THANK YOU FOR RECYCLING! It’s a great way to help “Keep It Green.”
Candace Jagel, WSU Extension Office
Kris Bayas, WSU Master Gardeners Program
Danna Kinsey, San Juan Islands Conservation District
Rev Shannon, SJC Fair
