The first load of ocean-bound plastics collected by Island Green Living set sail Tuesday for recycling, including 13,906 pounds of disposable plastics and 433,300 aluminum cans.
The partnership between Island Green Living and Michigan-based PADNOS was first announced in February, and since then, the St. John-based Island Green Living has worked to amass the more than 27,000 pounds of material, which PADNOS is responsible for processing and selling in to end-users, according to a news release.
This is the first shipment of ocean-based plastics but outside of that, Island Green Living’s aluminum recycling program has saved 1.9 million cans from the dump, the release said.
“We are grateful to our partner PADNOS, one of the top recyclers in the United States, for their donation of equipment and other assistance which helped get our commercial level recycling program off the ground,” said Harith Wickrema, president of Island Green Living. “It is vital that we continue to turn ‘waste’ into a resource, an endeavor that would not be possible without our dedicated staff, volunteers and donors.”
Before being baled and loaded for shipment, the recyclables are collected at key pickup locations around the island, then sorted and crushed at Island Green Living’s facilities. In partnership with the V.I. Waste Management Authority, Island Green Living picks up recyclables at three frequented trash collection sites on St. John, where specially marked containers have been placed. Residents can deposit their rinsed recyclable No. 1, 2, and 5 plastics and aluminum cans at:
- Cruz Bay: Main VIWMA site across from EC Gas Station & Alfredo’s Landscaping
- Gifft Hill Road: VIWMA site just past Gifft Hill School
- Coral Bay: Main VIWMA site across from Love City Mini Mart
Island Green Living’s ReSource Depot, located behind the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency on Gifft Hill, and Connections in Cruz Bay are also drop-off points.
Most commonly used plastics have a resin code listed on the material, typically on the bottom. Island Green Living can accept No. 1, 2 and 5 plastics which include items such as water and soda bottles, some food containers, peanut butter jars, milk jugs, shampoo and detergent bottles, and yogurt containers, among other items. Caps can be recycled but should be removed from containers. Styrofoam and items like plastic utensils and bags cannot be accepted.
