
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 21, 1993                   TAG: 9304210159
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

TAKE OFF TOPS BEFORE RECYCLING

Topless recycling? That's right. Take the tops off plastic or glass bottles, jugs, and food jars before putting them into the recycling bin.

Kathy Carmichael, town recycling coordinator, says tops and lids are nonrecyclable and can cause shipments to be rejected. Ultimately, that costs money and usually means the items end up the the landfill.

Carmichael also advises care in preparing recyclables. Plastic bottles, jars, and jugs marked No. 1 (PET) and No. 2 (HDPE) may be placed together in one bag. Glass is totally recyclable but must be separated by colors: clear, brown or amber, and green or light blue. Don't worry about labels. Carmichael says to leave them on.

by CNB