With temperature swings causing melt-freeze conditions in the Region, many area residents may be salting paved surfaces more often. The Porter County Recycling and Waste Reduction District urges area residents to practice caution when recycling plastic salt bags. “Plastic salt bags are really confusing for the public in terms of recyclability. Locally in Porter County plastic salt bags aren’t readily recyclable via local curbside programs or across county drop-off locations. Unfortunately this type of plastic needs to be placed in the trash,” said Keri Marrs Barron, Executive Director of Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County. Water softener bags, laundry detergent zipper bags, ice melt salt bags, garbage bags and flower wrapping bags are not accepted for curbside recycling or across local recycle drop-off locations in Porter County, and the district suggests these type of bags be placed in the trash.
“Plastic bags in general are often tricky when it comes to recycling. So many of us commonly think that plastic as a textile can be recycled. In many instances, area residents don’t recognize the harm that plastic bags pose. Regular plastic grocery bags shouldn’t be placed in curbside recycling because they can easily jam or damage the machines at local sorting facilities. Same applies to plastic garbage bags. We ask the public not to bag recyclables for this very reason,” said Barron.
Standard plastic grocery bags, sandwich bags, and newspaper bags can be recycled at the Valparaiso Compost Site located on West Lincolnway/State Road 130, one mile west of intersection with Joliet Road. For complete list of plastic bag recycling locations throughout Porter County visit https://portercountyrecycling.org/recycling . For more information on acceptable recycling items contact the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County at (219) 465-3694 or visit PorterCountyRecycling.org .
