Tiny Choices Q&A: Non-Recyclable Plastics?
By Jenn (TinyChoices.com) | September 13, 2007
Welcome to Tiny Choices Q&A, where we open the floor for discussion on questions which ya’ll have submitted (read the first list of questions here).
Stacey asks:
If New York only collects plastic jugs & bottles from #1 and #2 plastic, what do we do with all of our soyogurt containers, deli food holders and that salad box thing from Maoz?
Oy, this question gives me such a headache. Because I really don’t have a good answer for it.
The only thing I’ve got for you is something you might already know about- The Park Slope Food Coop (where I am a perpetually-suspended-for-lack-of-attendance member) accepts most plastics which NYC recycling doesn’t, and it does so for non-members as well. Which is so great! Be sure to check that link for the recycling schedule-you’ll see the collection containers outside the Coop on those days only. The only thing is, just be sure to incorporate a trip there with other nearby errands-don’t, say, take a car trip expressly for that purpose, because then you’re probably creating more pollution than your recycling is preventing. Not a problem for you on your bike, but still, you know, it needed mentioning.
I’ve been considering making my own soy yogurt at home, so that I can avoid generating more plastic waste with NYC-non-recyclable yogurt containers. The thing is, for soy yogurt, you need to start with soy milk-which usually comes in asceptic containers (Tetrapaks) which are highly resource-intensive to recycle. The next logical step is to start from scratch with dried soybeans from which to make homemade soymilk, and then make soy yogurt from that, and compost the soybean dregs. This is a more closed-loop process, but quite honestly it’s one step too many for me. My next consideration is to switch back to dairy yogurt, and purchase local milk in returnable glass jars at the Farmer’s Market with which to make yogurt from. This would avoid waste from disposable milk cartons and yogurt cartons, and since I bike, walk or take the subway, no energy (except my own) is expended to return the glass milk jars. But then, there are the cows to consider… It’s a little bit strange-while I still eat cheese and products made with dairy, why do I feel so wrong in eating milk-based yogurt? And forget about drinking an actual glass of milk. But back to your question of recycling…
Ohhhh, such a headache!
What do ya’ll do with the plastics you can’t recycle? And, how do you cut down on the amount of non-recyclable plastics you consume?
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Topics: Q&A, Waste | 19 Comments »
19 Comments
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oh, I envy your chance to purchase local milk in returnable glass jars!
I would totally think that there must be dairies out somewhere near you?? Where’d our farmland go?
I had NO IDEA about the problem with Tetra Paks. I thought we were doing something good by using a recyclable-packaged product that didn’t need to be constantly refrigerated, thereby using fewer energy resources. Depressing. I am slightly cheered by the news about the PS Coop taking other plastics-I’d considerered saving them up and taking them to my mother’s (hundreds of miles away) the next time I go-so thanks for spreading that news. I hated throwing them away. Now I can just drop them off the next time I go visit friends in PS.
Something else to think about — my sister has whole file of indignant correspondence with Stonyfield Farms about the fact that their yogurt is packaged in #5 plastic tubs. She loves their yogurt (and so does her son) but has decided to make all of her own yogurt, even though she doesn’t like it as much, until she can get yogurt in recyclable containers. So I think it’s a two-pronged approach — communicating your desires to the company, over and over, and making do with alternatives that aren’t quite as satisfactory.
(My sister finally did get a response from Stonyfield, which was basically, “Our yogurt containers are 100% recyclable in areas that accept #5 plastics for recycling.” To which my sister responded, “Yes, but since most places don’t accept #5 plastic, that’s like saying your containers are fully compostable in worm bins that use special magic plastic-eating worms!”)
“Yes, but since most places don’t accept #5 plastic, that’s like saying your containers are fully compostable in worm bins that use special magic plastic-eating worms!”
zing!
I’m so thankful that my municipality accepts ALL plastics. it’s unusual even for NJ, though!
so can we just bring our plastics to you?
you can have local food potluck, stitch and bitches and we can all bring our recycling - beeeeooootiful!
If it means that I get to be surrounded by the TC community, then, YES! Bring it on, sister! Bury me in your plastics… stitch n bitch me into oblivion… and ply me with your local homemade food!
brilliant idea!
Hi! This is my first time commenting here. I love this site and have gotten some great tips from it. I found the link on Linda Perman’s site.
I’m surprised by Stonyfield’s response. They have a ‘take back’ program where you mail your empty yogurt containers back to them for recycling. That’s what I do (I love their vanilla and lemon yogurt and eat a LOT of it). I don’t remember the complete address (it’s at home) but it’s Stonyfield Farm Take Back Program, Londonderry, NH.
Welcome, Clare! and thank you for your kind words!
I was surprised by stonyfield’s response too, because I know they’re partnered with recycline to create toothbrushes/etc. http://www.stonyfield.com/SpecialOffers/Recycline.cfm
thanks for the info about the take back program! when I looked up the link above I got the address:
A Note About Stonyfield Farm’s Recycling Program:
With polypropylene #5 plastic packaging, we use significantly less plastic than we would if our cups were HDPE #2 plastic. Some communities, however, don’t recycle #5 containers. If you are out of ways to reuse your Stonyfield Farm yogurt cups, and if #5 plastic recycling isn’t available in your area, you can send your CLEAN Stonyfield Farm cups to us, and we’ll be sure they’ll get recycled. Send them to: Stonyfield Farm, 10 Burton Drive, Londonderry, NH 03053
ummm…. thanks for answering this on Rosh Hashana ;)
I was thinking of joining the Park Slope Co-op after my CSA season ends. It’s about 30 min on the bike from the Manhattan side of the ferry and if I do hours and shopping on the same day, it’s not bad. Also, if I plan enough stuff in that area, I can drive there, since I usually drive to the natural food stores on Staten Island, which can be reached by bus or a hillly 30 min bike ride.
I wonder how many crafts can come from soyogurt (and, I guess dairy yogurt) containers?
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I have searched high and low for yogurt that is packaged in #2 plastic. I finally found Nancy’s Yogurt at Whole Foods.
http://www.nancysyogurt.com/contact/reuse.php
I am a huge fan of Nancy’s plain soy yogurt- they keep it unsweetened, as all plain yogurts should be. And I love how their containers are made specifically for reuse. Thanks for sharing!
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