Students at Southwest Open High have expanded recycling opportunities in the county.
The students have been collecting No. 1 and No. 2 plastics to test whether they can be recycled locally.
On Friday, they hit a milestone when they proved the plastics can be successfully baled during test at the Montezuma County landfill.
“It went really well; the students were thrilled,” said Casey Simpson, a SWOS teacher and recycling advocate. “We collected 1,300 pounds of plastic for the test bale.”
It was thought that plastics could not be baled because when crushed they keep their shape and blow out of the baler straps. As a result plastic recycling has not been available locally, but that is about to change.
The students proved you can get a bale of plastic to stay together, said landfill manager Shak Powers.
“They deserve a lot of credit for recognizing a problem, rolling up their sleeves, and doing something about it,” Powers said.
The landfill will soon be accepting No. 1 and No.2 plastics from residents, he said, but the details are still being worked out.
The type of plastic is printed on products.
No. 1 plastics include containers for water, soda, mouthwash, salad dressing, and peanut butter.
No. 2 plastics include milk jugs, juice bottles, detergent and household cleaner bottles, shampoo bottles, trash and grocery bags, and motor oil bottles.
The landfill will be paying recyclers current market value for the plastics, minus $40 it takes to bale.
The plastics they will accept have a market price of $140 per ton. After baling costs, it works out to 5 cents per pound.
As part of an effort to become a regional recycling hub, the county revamped operations to utilize an industrial baler for the sole purpose of recycling. The landfill is working on a plan with local haulers to offer curb side recycling service in the county, and also in Mancos and Dolores.