The Sustainable Beacon recycling and waste reduction working group launched a project to collect filmy plastic from Beacon residents and ensures it is made into other products. The program is offered by the Trex decking company for 6 months.

You can now bring plastic bags to convenient drop-off bins. Filmy plastic is a particularly damaging form of single-use plastic because of the toxins released when it breaks down in the environment, and because their microplastics can be more attractive to fish , thus poisoning sea life and the humans that consume it.

Filmy plastic is also hard to recycle.

Bring your filmy plastic to bins located at Key Food (268 Main St.) and Beacon Farmer’s Market every Sunday.

Special thanks to Key Food, Beacon Parks and Recreation, Lions Club, Conservation Advisory Committee, Beacon Farmer’s Market, and to all volunteers!

RULES OF THUMB:

See if the package will stretch when you pull it. If YES it can be included. If it tears like paper, then please don't put in the bin.

Does the plastic make a crinkly/crunchy sound in your hand? If it does, DO NOT recycle in the NexTrex bin.

*PLEASE DO NOT bring:* compostable bags, pre-washed salad mix bags, frozen food bags, pet food bag, mulch or soil bags, candy bar wrappers, chip bags, receipts, net/mesh bags, or six-pack rings.

Acceptable Filmy Plastic: grocery bags, retail bags, stretch film, bread bags, case overwrap, product wrap, dry cleaning bags, newspaper sleeve, ziplock and resealable storage bags, ice bags, bubble wrap, packing air pillows, shipping envelopes, electronic wrap, cereal bag liner, salt bags, wood pellet bags & produce bags.\

Most clean and dry polyethylene (PE), labeled as #2 or #4, plastic film and bags are recyclable at participating retail and local drop-off locations.

552 pounds of plastic has been collected and diverted from landfills. (4/18/21)