List of plastic scrap recycling in Dallas, TX

I found this really long list of recycling places in Dallas that accept plastic scraps. I have not had the time to check out all the listings myself, and to see if those are commercial recycling only, or residential scrap recycling as well.

http://recyclelist.org/recycle/tx/dallas/plastic-scrap-and-recycling

Recycling LDPE 04 foam packing in Dallas

The Low Density Polyethylene LDPE 04 packaging materials look like this:


Apparently, these can be recycled in large quantities (via business-to-business resale, not suitable for average households)
http://www.recycle.net/Plastic/ldpe/ - this is a community of commercial recyclers

Here is the advice from the recyclers' association. The advice basically boils down to: there are very few recycling location, so mailing the stuff may be the only economically sensible thing to do:
http://www.epspackaging.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=4

Drop-off centers:

For an average home owner, Austin has a good recycling facility
http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2008-04-18/613670/

I was not able to find any other information on LDPE 04 recycling in other cities yet

Recycling styrofoam (foam #6) in Texas

Styrofoam is the bane of our times. I see those torn smashed pieces of to-go cups and boxes laying along side the roads, under the green shrubs by my house, and in the think grass in the cleanest parts of the local greenbelt... Even if I try to avoid taking any styrofoam with me from food places, it still arrives to me in the form of trash appearing front of my house and packaging materials in parcels that I receive.

 

Once acquired, how to get rid of it?

In Texas, food-grade Styrofoam is very hard to recycle. Packaging material Styrofoam is a bit easier to recycle. Styrofoam peanuts are the easiest to get rid of.

First of all, the Ecology Action site is great for information on all types of recycling in North Texas

Peanuts 

Accepted as many shipping/mailing centers, such as Ship Express , Pack Mail, and UPS stores. All you need to do is to check with the nearest mailing centers around you to see who will take your peanuts.

Packaging material Styrofoam

Check the maps posted here to find a drop-off facility near you:

1) http://www.epspackaging.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37&Itemid=38
2) http://www.homeforfoam.com/foam-101/foam-recycling-centers

Also:

• City of Galveston is accepting all types of Styrofoam 
• City of Austin has information that it accepts Styrofoam, but other publish information contradicts that, so call the city department to check on the current rules for Styrofoam

Note: 1. CycledPlastics.com used to be a recycling center, but now appears to be sold/closed. 

2. Texas Single Stream recycling  is NOT accepting Strofoam 

Food and beverage containers

Check the maps posted here to find a drop-off facility near you:

1) http://www.epspackaging.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37&Itemid=38
2) http://www.homeforfoam.com/foam-101/foam-recycling-centers

Also:

• There is one recycling facility in Fort Bent County http://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/index.aspx?page=649#plastic
• City of Galveston is accepting all types of Styrofoam (https://www.facebook.com/cityofgalveston/posts/593818603965645)

For commercial companies, manufacturing facilities, offices - http://balconesresources.com/contact-us/dallas

MAIL-BACK LOCATION:

Depending on where in Texas you live, your best option may be mailing your materials, rather than dropping it off.

You can crush up the materials and mail them to this location (I would check with the first on any restrictions)

Texas Foam Fabricators, Inc. 

900 E. Keller Parkway Keller, TX 76248 817-379-6520

http://www.epspackaging.org/images/stories/National_Mail_Back_Program_1-16.pdf

Bubble pack recycling in Texas

I need to recycle 2 bags of scraps bubble pack. Here is what I have found so far by trying to search for information on bubble pack recycling.


1) most sites that pop up in Google briefly mention that you can find bubble pack recycling centers, but they do not specifically say how to find them. Instead, they spend most of the article discussion reusal options
2) most municipalities in Texas do no accept bubble pack through the curbside collection
3) the only places that seem to accept packaging film for, apparently, reuse, are mailing places
4) SealedAir (http://www.recyclepefoam.com/) accepts bubble pack for recycling through mail and through drop off center

Recycle PE Foam

Recycle PE Foam allows you to ship to a recycler (http://www.recyclepefoam.com/pe_locator/zone2.aspx)

TexasAustin Foam Plastics, Inc.
1430 Bradley Lane, Suite 140
Carrollton, TX 75007

HFP-El Paso
12 Zane Grey #12-B
El Paso, TX 79906

Alamo Foam
11115 Osgood
San Antonio, TX 78223

Houston Foam Plastics
2019 Brooks Street
Houston, TX 77026

Foam Fabricators, Inc.
900 E. Keller Parkway, Suite 101
Keller, TX 76248

Austin Foam Plastics, Inc.
2933 A.W. Grimes Blvd
Pflugerville, TX 78660-5292 

SealedAir corporation

SealedAir corporation (who produces bubble pack) allows you to drop off bubble pack for recycling at 1 location in Texas (in Fort Worth)

https://sealedair.com/bubble-wrap-brand-air-cellular-packaging-recycling-program

Sealed Air Corporation, 4400 Diplomacy Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76155 Tel: +1-817-540-2020

Other recycling facilities

Yellow pages mention a company Advanced Foam Recycling in the DFW area, but the company apparently does not have a web site to provide details

http://www.yellowpages.com/redbird-dallas-tx/soft-foam-recyclers

Shipping centers

In the end, it seems that the easiest way to recycle bubble pack in Texas is to bring it to one of mail service businesses that can reuse the materials. Example:

Ship Express
3026 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX 75205
 (214) 692-9773
http://www.ship-express.com/We-RECYCLE.aspx

Pack & Ship Center
1475 Richardson Dr.
Richardson, TX 75080
http://rsdemo.rsstores.net/Home-Business/Recycling-Services

Best Buy recycling for small electronics

I need to check out if they can accept my old vacuums, coffee makes, etc.

http://texastakeback.com/texasrecycles/hard-to-recycle/e-waste-recycling/#smallewaste

Manufacturer-based recycling in Texas

Computers
Televisions
Cellphones
Other electronics

What to do with that old computer, VCR of PlayStation? You can’t toss ‘em in the trash because they contain toxic materials. The emerging solution is a simple but far-reaching concept:manufacturers should take ‘em back. When the producers are responsible for recycling, they have a powerful financial incentive to redesign products for easy recycling and a profit motive to phase out the use of toxic materials. Plus the government doesn’t have to pay for more recycling. This saves our tax dollars and encourages a more sustainable economy — all while helping you get rid of that old boom box. 
Learn more about Producer TakeBack Recycling here.

Caution: many so-called recyclers are actually exporting your electronics to be dumped overseas. That’s not recycling! Manufacturers and retailers are offering new programs for a variety of e-waste, and this site is a how-to clearinghouse to help guide you to the easiest, most convenient options available. But unfortunately many of them don’t partner with the proven, responsible recyclers, leaving you with little assurance that your e-waste isn’t just dumped someplace else. The only way to be 100% certain that your e-waste won’t end up dumped overseas is to take it to an e-Steward recycler. There are only a handful of these in Texas:
Find an e-Steward location here.

Computers

Good: Dell and Goodwill partner in Texas to offer free recycling for any brand of computer equipment at any Goodwill location. Learn more here. Although Dell has a strong policy against exporting e-waste, the company does not disclose its recycling partners — meaning we must take them at their word when they say they’re really recycling your equipment.

Better: Thanks to state legislation passed in 2007, all computer makers selling products in Texas are now required to offer free recycling. Find a list of all manufacturer-based programs here. The problem is, very few of the manufacturers have adopted policies against sending e-waste overseas and none have committed to using only proven, responsible recyclers. To be 100% certain your computer will be recycled, find an e-Steward location here.

Best: Does it still work? Extend its useful life, then, by donating it to someone who can use it. For instance, World Computer Exchange is a global education & environment nonprofit that helps connect youth in 67 developing countries to the skills, opportunities and understanding of theInternet while keeping working computers out of landfills. This group tests all equipment before sending it overseas, ensuring it won’t end up dumped, but not all similar groups take this protective step.

In Houston, the organization Comp-U-Dopttakes yesterday’s computer and uses it for a child’s tomorrow. They provide computers and technology education to enthusiastic, motivated children who do not already have a computer in their home. They encourage a donation of $5 per CPU or monitor to support this program.

Another Houston non-profit, Techs & Trainers, uses your old computers to provide meaningful work for people with barriers to employment and IT equipment to those with special needs.

Televisions

Good: Best Buy is offers free recycling for any brand of TV, up to 32″. Learn more here.Some locations have accepted different equipment, so be sure to call your Best Buy location to confirm before taking in your electronics. 

Better: Thanks to state legislation passed in 2011, all TV makers selling products in Texas are now required to offer free recycling. Find a list of all manufacturer-based programs here.The problem is, not all of the manufacturers have adopted policies against sending e-waste overseas. To be 100% certain your computer will be recycled responsibly, find an e-Steward location here.

Best: Does it still work? Extend its useful life, then, by donating it to someone who can use it. Think the DTV switch made it obsolete? Not so fast — you can get a digital converter box to keep your old analog TV working. Learn more here.

Cell Phones, Pagers, PDAs

Good: Perhaps the easiest option, all Fedex/Kinkos locations accept cell phones and PDAs for free recycling. Find a location here.

Better: Just about every place you can buy a new cell phone will recycle your old one:
Sprint
AT&T
Verizon
Cricket
T-Mobile

Best: Because cell phones have more value than other e-waste, many non-profit organizations raise money through recycling programs. Here are a couple of examples, there are probably more in your community.
March of Dimes
Call to Protect

Small electronics

Good: All Best Buy stores offer free recycling for just about anything electronic. Learn more here. 

Better: If it’s so old or bizarre that no manufacturer or retailer will take it off your hands, you need to find a responsible e-cycler. Caution: many so-called recyclers are actually exporting your electronics to be dumped overseas. That’s not recycling!Unfortunately, the only way to be 100% certain that your e-waste won’t end up dumped overseas is to take it to an e-Stewardrecycler. There are only a handful of these in Texas: Find an e-Steward location here.

Best: Does it still work? Give it to someone who will extend its useful life. Just because it isn’t the newest coolest model doesn’t mean it’s junk. List it in the “free” section of Craigslist, or join your local “Freecycle” network. Freecycling matches people with extra stuff to people who need it: learn more here.

--------------

More details on specific items accepted at BestBuy stores:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/null/Recycling-Electronics/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025


------------

Recycling mercury-containing items

http://texastakeback.com/texasrecycles/hard-to-recycle/other-stuff/

Fluorescent Light Bulbs and Tubes

Although the instructions for responsible disposal of non-working compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) tell you to simply wrap the bulb in a plastic bag and throw it in the trash, don’t. Instead, take your spent CFLs to any Home Depotlocation, or any Ikea store, where the toxic bulbs will meet a safer end. In the D/FW area,Universal Recycling Technologies will recycle your old fluorescent bulbs and tubes and currently partners with some municipal household hazardous waste programs. Check with your city for details. Note: the amount of mercury pollution prevented by saving energy—often produced by coal-fired power plants, which emit mercury into the atmosphere—is greater than the amount of mercury in CFLs. Thus, you should undoubtedly continue to utilize energy efficient lighting…just make sure you don’t follow the instructions and recycle responsibly instead.

Mercury-Added Thermostats

As many households switch to sleek new programmable thermostats (a good move for energy efficiency mavens), it’s important to make sure that you—or your contractor—know that recycling the old bulky thermostat will help prevent mercury from entering our landfills. The Thermostat Recycling Corporation, started by leaders in the thermostat industry, facilitates programs across Texas and the U.S. Since old thermostats contain among the highest mercury content of household items, recycling is a must. Find details at www.thermostat-recycle.org.

Business recycling for Styrofoam in the USA

http://www.homeforfoam.com/foam-101/foam-recycling-centers


Home for Foam is an interesting informational web site about recycling products from styrofoam

Legend

Dart Foam #6 Recycling Centers

Other Foam #6 Recycling Centers

Curbside Pickup Locations (view all curbside pickup locations)