Text Box: MOST PLASTIC ITEMS ARE NOW RECYCLABLE BY NEW COUNTY RULES Text Box: As of July 1, single-family homes in Montgomery County are able to recycle all plastic bottles, containers and lids, jars, pails, buckets, and food-grade plastic tubs. Items previously not allowed, such as the following, may now be put in your green recycling bin: Butter/margarine tubs; Yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream; Whipped topping containers; Mayo, Peanut butter jars; Prescription bottles; Deli containers and trays; Ice cream Buckets; Plastic beverage cups; Laundry detergent tubs and buckets; Kitty litter tubs; Paint buckets up to 5 gallon in size; Plastic lids and flower pots. Some items, however, are still unacceptable. They include: Containers that held motor oil, antifreeze or pesticides; Plastic bags; Plastic wrap; Styrofoam/Polystyrene cups, trays or packaging; Clamshell plastic packaging marked #1 or #6; Text Box: Microwavable trays; Toys; Children’s swimming pools; Plastic flower tray packs marked #6; Other large plastic items. --Constance Macy Text Box: DID YOU KNOW? Every three months in the U.S. the amount of aluminum not recycled is enough to rebuild the entire commercial U.S. airfleet... One-third of the earth's copper reserves are untapped, one-third are in use (wire, roofs, pipes, etc.), and one-third are in landfills... Almost half of all toxins released into the environment come from minerals and metal extraction... --Constance Macy