More than 50 people learned recycling tips at the Citizens Environmental Council’s program on Sept. 16 featuring two Recology experts and two founders of Peninsula Precious Plastics, a nonprofit that recycles “unrecyclable” plastic.

Monica Devincenzi and Alexandra Rinear of Recology emphasized that rules for recycling are rapidly changing, with California laws requiring producers to take back more and more goods polluting the environment, including mattresses, batteries, paint, pharmaceuticals and sharps. They said California, Oregon and Colorado are leading the nation in enacting extended producer responsibility laws, with San Francisco the “headquarters.”

They suggested returning to the days before flimsy furniture and fast fashion were ubiquitous and, instead, reusing unrecyclable items and buying sturdier, higher-quality goods that will last longer.

Nick Schick and his father, David Schick, explained that Peninsula Precious Plastics (PPP) is part of the global Precious Plastic movement with about 400 groups around the world that upcycle plastic waste. Their nonprofit based in San Carlos works with local high school and college students, as well as other volunteers, to create thousands of items each year, collecting, shredding, melting and then molding plastic waste into clipboards, key chains, flowerpots and many other items. It also produces large sheets of plastic that have been turned into chairs, sculptures and even a parklet made of plastic salvaged from the ocean.

PPP primarily accepts plastic from organizations that store up large quantities, although they accept donations of clean, dry HDPE containers and caps and prescription bottles. Anyone can volunteer and learn how they operate. To get involved, click here. To get involved, click here.

Recology inspectors randomly sample trash to judge how well it’s recycled. If a load of compost or recycled items appears to contaminated, an entire truck’s contents may be diverted to landfill. Recology also takes photos of overflowing bins at the curb and warns customers about possible penalties.

Attendees peppered the two Recology speakers with questions. After explaining what goes in which bin, they clarified that:

• To ensure sorting efficiency at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), please do not bag your recycling; instead put it loose in the recycle (blue) bin.
• In general, you don’t need to take off labels from bottles and jars, but if a label slides off easily, do separate it.
• Don’t flatten cans, as they may get hidden between sheets of cardboard and not sorted out at the MRF.
• Dump and rinse out food and liquids before recycling containers, but you don’t have to wash them.
• Plastic bottles (such as shampoo bottles), jugs (like milk jugs) and tubs (such as yogurt tubs) should go into the recycling (blue) bin.
• The little stickers on fresh fruit should be taken off before putting fruit in the compost (green) bin.
• Paper products soiled with food (like pizza boxes and paper towels) go in the compost (green) bin.
• Fiber-based to-go containers and paper coffee cups should go in the compost (green) bin, but plastic coffee cup tops should go in the garbage (black) bin.
• Bioplastics, especially anything that looks or feels like plastic, should go into the garbage (black) bin, even though they are labeled as “compostable.”
• BPI-certified compostable bags are currently accepted for bagging compost, but the rules for these will be changing soon. It’s better to use a paper bag or keep objects loose for home composting.
• Any flimsy plastics you can “wrinkle or crinkle” go in the black (trash) bin, including cereal box liners.
• Soup and juice boxes made of mixed materials (such as Tetra Pak packaging) and should go in the garbage (black) bin.
• You can drop off up to five mattresses or box springs (that are not wet, heavily soiled or infested) for free in one visit at the Transfer Station located at 333 Shoreway Road in San Carlos through the RethinkWaste Bye Bye Mattress Program; check the website for clarity on what is accepted.
• Nothing you put in your garbage (black) bin will get sorted. Recycle and compost when you can to extend the local landfill capacity. If you question where something should go, it’s best to put it in the garbage (black) bin.

Still wondering whether something is recyclable or compostable? Check out Recology’s What Bin search tool, which requires you to enter your address to make sure the rules apply. For information on the new “chasing arrows” labels in the works, visit how2recycle.info.