SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): Many household plastics can avoid a landfill and instead be recycled thanks to the New Mexico Highlands University Recycling Center.

Located at 1101 Raynolds Ave., the NMHU Recycling Center is open and able to take recyclable materials from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The center has recently started accepting plastics 1 and 2 again. Freddie Martinez, custodial/setups and recycling manager for the NMHU Recycling Center, said plastics inscribed with a ‘1’ include drinking bottles, clear salad dressing bottles and mouthwash bottles. He said plastics noted as ‘2’ include milk jugs, as well as bottles for shampoo, detergent and various household cleaners.

The NMHU Recycling Center previously accepted plastics 1 and 2, but had to take a hiatus from doing so, Martinez said. This was due to the center’s inability to find a vendor it could sell the plastics to.

Martinez said the center’s inability to find a vendor that would accept the plastics was tied to increased tariffs with China.

“We sell most of our recyclable products to (the) Chinese,” Martinez said. Tariffs on these recyclable materials put a standstill on the U.S. recyclables going to China, Martinez explained.

“I know they started selling (recyclable products) to other countries,” Martinez said, “but, we basically sell a lot of stuff to China.”

An easing up on these tariffs has meant that plastics can be sold at a better price, Martinez said.

“Now that everything’s picking up, it’s easier to find vendors to sell to,” Martinez noted. There is currently one vendor that Martinez is selling the plastics to, he said, and there is a possibility that more vendors will be sought out.

The NMHU Recycling Center also accepts cardboard, small electrical appliances and some metals such as aluminum and copper, Martinez said.

Sylvia Baca, director of facilities services at NMHU, said those who bring their plastics must clean them first. 

All of Las Vegas is welcome to take advantage of the opportunity to recycle at the NMHU Recycling Center, Baca said.

“There is a big need for the community to have somewhere they can take their recyclables to,” Baca said. “It’s not just for the Highlands community.”

Baca said she is thrilled and excited that the NMHU Recycling Center can accept plastics.

“We’re so happy to be at this stage again,” Baca said.

Courtesy: www.lasvegasoptic.com