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Recycling in Clallam County

June 21, 2024|2024 Summer Eco-Brick Project

Did you know that the average Clallam County resident disposes close to 4 lbs of waste per day? That equates to 1,460 lbs a year! That means an average household of four throws away 5,840 lbs of waste a year! The majority of this “waste” has potential for reuse. A wonderful way that we can prevent this amount of waste going to landfills is through reducing, reusing, and recycling.

When eco-bricking, it is also important to know about recycling! What plastics you can recycle differs from place to place, so it is important to know what kinds of plastic can be recycled in your area. It is helpful to know what cannot be recycled, because those plastics can be included in the creation of eco-bricks.

When it comes to waste management, there is a pyramid that we can use to visualize the five important steps:

Rethink: It is important to be an informed consumer:

Refuse: Repair and Maintain Products 

  • Repairing clothing and appliances prevent them from going to landfills
  • Maintaining products prevents them needing to be replaced as often
  • Around Again: Repair Event – Sunday July 14th 1:00PM-4:00PM

Reduce:

  • Buying products that are produced locally reduces transportation emissions
  • Waste audit: identify what your waste consists of and how to mitigate it
    • Waste: packaging of items, spoiled food
    • Mitigate: reusable bags, reusable coffee cup, buying in bulk, purchasing items in paperboard or cardboard
    • Eco-bricks are a great way to visualize and conduct a plastic waste audit

Reuse: 

  • Invest into products that focus on longevity and quality over single-use and disposable products
  • Benefits:
    • You save money!
    • Less “waste” gets sent to landfills
    • Repeated use / avoiding disposing costs
  • Composting: A great way to limit the amount of organic waste going to landfills

 

Recycle: 

According to the EPA, recycling is defined as, “The separation and collection of materials that otherwise would be considered waste” and “The processing and re-manufacturing of these items into new products

Recycling in Clallam County:

 

“Core Four”: What can you recycle in blue bins?

  • Plastic bottles, jugs, and dairy tubs (without lids)
  • Metal cans (lids attached or pinched inside)
  • Mixed paper (mail, paperboard boxes, newspapers)
  • Corrugated cardboard (free of food waste and tape)

 

How to recycle:

  • Empty: all liquid and food scraps
  • Clean: items by either rinsing or soaking containers 
  • Dry: items to air dry

What is prohibited?:

  • Plastic bags:
    • Empty your recycling from the plastic bag; plastic bags cannot be recycled
  • Glass:
    • Glass Collection Sites:
    • Evergreen Collision (703 E Washington)
    • Sequim Utility Shop (162 W Hemlock)
  • Hazardous household items / waste:

Recycling Tips:

Sources: