Q: I have a timely question: How about plastic bags for pellet stoves? They have the triangular recyclable logo on them, but I don't think that we can put them in our bin for the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF). Can we? If not, can we save them up and bring them to Resource Recovery? — M.C. in Newport
A: You’re absolutely correct, M.C., in that these plastic bags don’t belong in your recycling bin. No plastic bags of any kind ever go in your recycling bin, and your recycling should never be set out inside of plastic bags, either. At the MRF, plastic bags are Public Enemy Number One. You can drop them off for recycling at large grocery, pharmacy and big-box store stores in Rhode Island, as well as Resource Recovery, if you have very large quantities. To do the latter, call 228-3187 at least 24 hours in advance.
All plastic bags and film must be clean, dry, and able to stretch — even just a little — to be acceptable in this program. To get pellet bags sufficiently clean, turn them inside out and shake vigorously. These bags are thicker than single-use shopping bags, but you can still stretch them a bit if you try to press your thumb through them. Keep in mind that bags and film that don’t stretch at all (e.g. vinyl and cellophane) are trash, as are clingy food wrap, fertilizer/pesticide bags and bags labeled compostable or biodegradable.
Never forget that the triangular recycling symbol doesn’t necessarily mean that they're recyclable around here, or anywhere. Though items that bear the symbol are sometimes recyclable in your bin or cart, they may be recyclable only through a special program; more often than not, they aren’t recyclable at all! This is incredibly frustrating, but unfortunately there is nothing to stop companies from using this symbol as they please. Sometimes they use it when their product is made from recycled materials. Or they use it incorrectly because they don’t understand how recycling works. I’d hate to think they’d knowingly label their product falsely, but there are plenty of items out there that bear the symbol yet belong in the trash.
Finally, since we’re at the wood-burning stove, let me address one related item: ash. First and foremost, you must ensure that ashes are entirely extinguished before you do anything with them. It’s best to store them in a metal container with a metal lid. When it’s time to empty the container, consider carefully whether to add those ashes to your compost or garden. Ashes can significantly raise the soil’s pH, so use only a measured amount if your soil is too acidic or if you want to feed specific plants that need a lot of potassium. Depending on your landscape, you might put the ashes somewhere out of sight, where plant growth doesn’t matter — say, behind a shed. Speaking of that shed, don't forget how important it is for the ashes to be 100 percent extinguished! The final option is to place fully extinguished ashes in the trash.
— Krystal Noiseux is the education and outreach manager at RIRRC. Send your question, including the city or town from which you're writing, to Trash Tutorial, Features Department, The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902. Or email features@providencejournal.com and put "Trash Tutorial" in the subject field.