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There are three basic ways in which communities can
offer plastic recycling collection services for plastic bottles and containers.
The first, and most widely accessible, collection method is curbside
collection of recyclables. Curbside recycling programs are generally the
most convenient for community residents to participate in and yield high
recovery rates as a result. Communities that provide curbside collection
generally request residents to separate designated recyclables from their
household garbage and to place them into special receptacles or bags, which are
then set out at the curb for collection by municipal or municipally-contracted
crews.
The second
collection method is known as drop-off recycling. In this method,
containers for designated recyclable materials are placed at central collection
locations throughout the community, such as parking lots, mosques, schools, malls
or other civic associations. The containers are generally marked as to which recyclable
material should be placed in them. Residents are requested to deliver their
recyclables to the drop-off location, where recyclables are separated by
material type into their respective collection containers.
The last
collection method employs the use of buy-back centers. Most buy-back
recycling centers are operated by private companies and pay consumers for
recyclable materials that are brought to them. Buy-back centers usually have
purchasing specifications that require consumers to source separate recyclable
materials brought for sale. These purchase specifications can greatly reduce
contamination levels and allow the buy-back center to immediately begin
processing the recyclables they purchase, while providing consumers with an
economic incentive to comply with the specifications.
