Long Beach, California, revamps recycling to focus on plastics by item type, not resin numbers

Long Beach, California, has dropped many #3-7 plastics from curbside collection. Instead, the city is introducing an item-specific recycling program that avoids using numeric designations and directs residents to recycle specific types of items such as milk jugs, water bottles and cereal boxes. The Long Beach Public Works Department said it would prefer to not go back-and-forth with recycling guidelines too often, as frequent changes can cause confusion. So after a few years of no new markets appearing for certain plastics — and no options on the horizon — the city decided it was worth re-educating residents about collection protocols. The decision mainly affects mixed plastics, but also includes other resin types. Items like plastic cups, cartons and takeout containers will no longer be accepted. The Public Works Department hired a marketing team to help design public messaging around the new guidelines, which the city said will roll out in English and Spanish soon. For now, how-to workshops are available in both languages on the department’s website. Dive Insight: Long Beach, California, held out as long as they could on dropping lower-value plastics. After international trade changes […]

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