Show All Answers

1. How much garbage does each resident produce?

The national average is 4.4 lbs. per person/day. Fairbanks North Star Borough average is higher at 5.8 lbs. per person/day.

2. Why do I need to rinse and sort out my containers?

To meet the industry standard of 0.5% or less contamination.

3. Why do I need to sort my materials before I drop them off?

Sorting your recycling is an important step to help ensure that materials
collected are recycled properly. Presorting helps reduce drop-off time and
allows for faster processing / baling.

4. What does contamination mean and why is it important to follow recycling guidelines?

Contamination is food, oils, residue not rinsed from containers.
Contamination also occurs when recycled items are not presorted into
appropriate categories.

5. Why won't you accept my aluminum pet food cans?

Risk of contamination and the waxy liner inside the can.

6. Where can I take my plastic grocery bags?

Check your local grocery store; many local businesses have bins in their
entry way to recycle these items.

7. Why won't you accept glass bottles?

Fairbanks, Alaska, doesn’t have a glass processor. FNSB solicited proposals
for glass recycling; however, no proposals were received.

8. Where can I take my tin cans?

Check with your local scrap metal recyclers.

9. How can I dispose of my light bulbs?

Please refer to the Fairbanks Recycling Guide.

10. Why can't you accept my materials if I live in Delta Junction or elsewhere outside the Borough?

The Central Recycling Facility is paid for by the residents of Fairbanks
North Star Borough.

11. Is recycling at the CRF free?

Residents/residential materials are free; See CRF Fee Schedule.

12. What happens to the materials after being dropped off?

1. Materials are inspected for quality before compacting into bales.
2. Bales are transported to Anchorage; then are barged to a port
   in Washington. Some cardboard & newspaper remain in Alaska.
3. Items are transported to mills for processing into new products.

13. Why don't you accept plastic to-go boxes with the #1 PETE?

Our current contractor is unable to recycle this type of plastic.

14. What does the symbols (1-7) on plastics means?

It is the resin identification code, which denotes what type of resin the piece
is made from. Here are the seven (7) different types:

1. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE), water/juice/soda bottles
2. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE),
   milk/detergent/shampoo jugs
3.  Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC),
   film packaging, rigid containers
4. Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), grocery
   bags
5. Polypropylene (PP), food
   containers/lids
6. Polystyrene (PS), cups/to-go containers
7. OTHER (mixed resins), containers, other plastic products