Plastic recycling returns to MAFB

  • Published
  • By Frank Carpenter
  • 341st Civil Engineer Squadron
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The 341st Civil Engineer Squadron is pleased to announce that plastic recycling is again being offered on Malmstrom Air Force Base. The squadron's environmental team, in partnership with Steel ETC, is establishing a pilot plastics recycling program. Starting May 1, Malmstrom residents and retirees will be able to drop off clean plastic products at the base recycle center located on 74th Street N., adjacent to the car wash.

Steel ETC is offering this service as a test program and has agreed to place a container for recycling clean plastic types 1, 2 and 3.

Type 1 Plastics -Polyethylene Terephthalate: PET or PETE plastics are found in soft drink, water and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles, peanut butter containers, salad dressing and vegetable oil containers, and oven-able food trays. These are recycled into polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps and occasionally new containers.

Type 2 Plastics - High Density Polyethylene, or HDPE, plastics are found in milk jugs, juice bottles; bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles, some trash and shopping bags, motor oil bottles, butter and yogurt tubs, and cereal box liners. These are recycled into laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, recycling containers, floor tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables and fencing.

Type 3 Plastics - Vinyl: V or PVC plastics are found in window cleaner and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, siding, windows and piping. These are recycled into decks, paneling, mudflaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps and mats.

The recycling container will have instructions as to which products can be recycled. Please insure that the material placed in the container is clean. If refuse or dirty plastic products are deposited it will make the recycling process too costly for Steel ETC to provide this service.

For further information, contact Malmstrom's solid waste manager at 731-6448. Off-base residents can obtain recycling information by calling Steel ETC at 761-4848.