Rumpke Waste & Recycling is now accepting reusable plastic, paper and aluminum cups through its recycling program, with a few exceptions. It's the second time in two years the company has announced expansions to its recycling program. It began accepting plastic food tubs, like those from butter and yogurt, last year.
Corporate Communications Manager Molly Yeager said there's two main reasons for the change.
"There's been many advances in the recycling world. One, we recently put better technology into our plants that allows us to separate it out," she said. "However, when it comes to end users, we've [also] seen a big increase in users that want these cups."
She said there are some exceptions to the expanded program. Styrofoam and cups made of No. 6 plastic, like SOLO cups, are still not recyclable.
"I hate telling people to look at the numbers, but that's probably the quickest way of doing it," Yeager said. "Turn the cup over, if you see a number six, that's a good sign that your cup is not able to be accepted in the program."
Straws, plastic stoppers and plastic lids on paper cups, like coffee cups, also need to be thrown in the trash. That also includes K-Cups and ceramic or glass cups.
But plastic lids that come with plastic cups, like those from fast food restaurants, can be recycled if it's reattached to the cups.
WVXU reporter Tana Weingartner contributed to this reporting.
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