Beginning in January 2010, Lower Merion Township will accept new items for recycling. Along with green, brown and clear glass, metal and bi-metallic food and beverage cans, and the #1 and #2 plastics that have been accepted as part of commingled recyclables, plastics #3 through #7 will now be included. In addition to mixed paper, corrugated cardboard will also be accepted. To help explain what this means, the following is a brief overview:

• #1—Poly (ethylene terephthalate): Soda bottles, water bottles, vinegar bottles, backing for photography film. NOTE: NO medicine containers
• #2—High-density Polyethylene: Containers for: laundry/dish detergent, fabric softeners, bleach, milk, shampoo, conditioner, various toys. NOTE: NO motor oil containers.
• #3—Poly (vinyl cloride): Pipes, shower curtains, cooking oil bottles, baby bottle nipples, shrink wrap, seat covers and coffee containers. NOTE: NO meat wraps, medical tubing or vinyl dashboards.
• #4—Low-density Polyethylene: Wrapping films, grocery bags, sandwich bags.
• #5—Polypropylene: Tupperware®, syrup bottles, yogurt tubs. NOTE: No diapers or outdoor carpet.
• #6—Polystyrene: Coffee cups, disposable cutlery and cups (clear and colored), bakery shells, meat trays, "cheap" hubcaps. NOTE: No packing peanuts or styrofoam insulation.
• #7—Sometimes referred to as “the hotdog of plastics!” Products labeled as "other" are made of any combination of #1 through #6 or another, less commonly used plastic.

Two types of cardboard can be recycled: flat cardboard, which is typically used in cereal and shoe boxes, and corrugated cardboard, which has a ruffled layer between the two flat pieces of cardboard and is often used in packing boxes. Both can now be recycled through the Township’s collection program with other mixed paper (not combined with commingle.)

At this time, wax-coated cartons (juice, milk, etc.) are NOT recyclable by the Township. Other unacceptable materials for recycling include:

• Ceramics, dishes, coffee cups, drinking glasses
• Glass cookware/bake ware
• Window glass, mirrors, light bulbs
• Tissue, paper towels
• Hangers, electrical cords, garden hoses

A flyer outlining the new recyclables will be hand delivered to homes in the coming week and the complete 2010 Refuse and Recycling Brochure is included in the December edition of Lower Merion Messenger, which will be mailed to households prior to the end of the month. Also, a special edition of Public Works Pipeline with Director of Public Works Don Cannon and Refuse and Recycling Supervisor Joe Przybyszewski will be cablecast on LMTV each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at both 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. and on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 5:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. LMTV can be found on Comcast Channel 7 and Verizon Channel 37.

Additional containers are available free of charge and can be requested by calling the Refuse Division at (610) 667-1952.