From curb to recycle center, what happens to your blue bin

Nov 19, 2023

Recycle or send it to the landfill? That is the question asked by many an individual who has held an empty tub of cream cheese, a discarded pizza box, a used pie tin, or a bare bottle of laundry detergent.

For decades we have been trained to recycle aluminum cans, newspapers, and plastic water bottles — just toss them into the blue commingle barrel for curbside pickup.

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Reporter: 541-617-7818, [email protected]

Michael Kohn has been public lands and environment reporter with The Bulletin since 2019. He enjoys hiking in the hills and forests near Bend with his family and exploring the state of Oregon.

I want to add - and should have said it first - thank you for this article!!! It's very helpful. May I share it on Facebook if I tag the Bulletin and Michael Kohn?

We live just outside the Bend city limits, in Deschutes River Woods. We do not have the option of recycling glass unless we take it to the landfill. We also do not have yard recycle!!! With all our pine trees and high wildfire danger, wouldn't you think yard debris recycle would be a given???

Or just buy less junk, a message you'll never read in any medium dependent on advertising (for cheap plastic junk).

Dear Bend Bulletin Readers, Would you believe I’ve recovered $22,989.50 in cash from the Blue Recycling Bins in Bend? I retain 3 years of Bottle Drop receipts to prove it! A sample of the items I’ve seen in the Blue Recycling Bins – Kitchen sink, dead mouse, flashlights, puzzles, sleeping bags, electronics, toilet bowl, books, bbq, auto equipment, household tools, kitchen utensils, pots, pans, vacuum cleaners, desks, chairs and so on. Warm Regards, Justin ‘Hood

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