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Ten Most Frequently Asked
Questions 10.
What do we do with our plastic grocery bags?
Many local stores have
in- store collection bins available to collect clean, dry plastic bags. Most accept clean
produce bags. Ask where to find the collection bin. In Roseburg, Food World,
Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, both Safeway and Wal-Mart all accept these bags. Collected
bags are shipped to regional store centers and then on to a recycling processor. The
recycled bags are made into a number of new plastic products.
Note: These bags are now being accepted
at the Roseburg Transfer Station in separate bins next to the other recycle
bins.
9. What category of
recycling do paper grocery bags fall under?
All paper grocery bags should be clean and recycled with flattened
cardboard. The paper fiber in these bags is of good quality and is used to make new
cardboard boxes.
Plastic shopping bags are referred to as
"plastic film" and are recycled at the store you got them or at
our transfer stations.
8. Which is better
to use, plastic or paper grocery bags?
Neither is the best answer to this question. The best option is to
take reusable cloth bags to the store where you shop. Most stores have a policy of
refunding the customer 5 cents for each bag they use. If you forget to bring your bags
with you and have to make a choice, select the bag that you are most likely to reuse.
Since both paper and plastic grocery bags are recyclable in Douglas County (see question
#9) there’s little difference in the two from a recycling perspective.
7. If an item has
the three arrows logo on it, is it recyclable?
Technically, yes it is made of material that can be recycled.
However, the "Mobius Loop" is being overused and many time does
not indicate the recyclability of a product.
As of May 2007 all plastics can be recycled in Douglas County!
Just make sure it is clean and not contaminated with food or oil.
Remember: It is better to not buy trash in the
first place.
6. What can I do
with those annoying foam packaging “peanuts”? I don’t want
to throw them away?
You can take clean packaging ("peanuts" and bubble wrap
only) to the following location:
_____________________________
Associated Buyers Postal Annex
444 NE Winchester St.
Roseburg, OR
492-0123
They will also accept clean bubble wrap
_____________________________
Also go to our Materials
Exchange to find out where to get rid of other reusable items and
material!
5. What is the Pre
and Post Consumer recycled content?
Pre-consumer recycled content refers to leftover material that would
normally be a waste product as a result of the manufacturing process but, instead is
collected and used to make a new product. For example: leftover fabric trimmings at a
clothing manufacturer can be recovered and used in the manufacture of new clothing.
Post-consumer recycled content denotes material that has been
“used up,” recycled, and then used to re-manufacture a new product. For example:
old aluminum cans are recycled, reprocessed and used in the manufacture of new cans and
other aluminum products.
4. When are the
transfer sites and recycling centers open?
For locations of all transfer sites and recycle depots click
here
All Douglas County disposal sites are open Wednesday through Sunday.
- Roseburg transfer site, exit 121 off I-5, is open from 8:00 AM to
6:00 PM.
- All other transfer sites are open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM,
3. The landfill site
looks like it is getting full. How much time do we
have left?
The old landfill location, viewable from I-5, is full and we
are not placing any more waste in it. Douglas County has constructed a new
"cell," a specially designed pit, to hold our current generation of wastes. This
new lined cell meets or exceeds all state and federal requirements for managing our wastes
and insuring the safety of our water and air. Estimates indicate we should
have had 18-20 years
of landfill space in this new area; many more years if we continue to improve our waste
reduction, reuse and recycling. However with increased disposal of
construction and demolition debris along with other recyclables, this
number may end up being only 13-15 years of life.
2. Where can I get a
compost bin?
Douglas County has purchased a small quantity of compost bins and
are offering them to residents and schools at cost, $34.50. This price includes an
informative booklet titled "Backyard Composting Made Easy." The bin
includes a
lid, holds 10 cubic feet of material, is made of 50% recycled material, and has a ten year
warranty.
Please click here if you are interested in purchasing one. If you wish to build
one, there are many simple designs available. Visit the library, or composting within these pages
for compost sites and contacts.
Douglas County Public Works
Waste Reduction and Recycling
(541) 440-4267 or
And....the #1 most often asked
question in Douglas County... ta da...
1. Why can’t we
recycle our cereal and shoe boxes?
These items are often mistaken for being made of cardboard. However,
the material, known as paperboard, is quite different (inferior) from corrugated
cardboard. It is recognized by being only one layer thick instead of the three-layered
cardboard.
Paperboard is usually made from fiber that has already been recycled
5-7 times. Each time a paper fiber is recycled it gets shorter. Eventually, it is so short
it is very difficult to use in making new products and has little to no value. This is the
case with paperboard.
This material can be recycled with your MIXED
PAPER!
Paperboard is a good example of post-consumer content and is an
appropriate choice when other alternatives, such as buying in bulk, are not available.
Paperboard can be composted along with your grass and yard clippings.
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