Residents of the Tri-Community finally have another option for their recyclables. A new facility opened in Phelan last October. Vard Recycling is located behind Anytime Fitness in Phelan. Two friendly young men, JC and Armen, run the operations, splitting hours as this facility is open seven days a week.
Taking recyclables to Vard is very simple. They will only take clean, dry, separated items, which recyclers can unload into ready and waiting containers for each type of recyclable. Each basket is then weighed, and the facility operator pays you for your items per pound, depending on the current price of the different types of recyclables. Any CRV items brought in must still have the label with the CRV code on it.
There are several items that can be recycled for cash, with each item bringing a different cost per pound. They are Aluminum at $1.66 per pound, Glass at $0.11 per pound, and Bimetal at $.39 per pound. Several types of plastics are accepted, including #1 PETE at $1.33 per pound, #2 HDPE at $.58 per pound, #3 PVC at $.48 per pound, #4 LDPE at $2.08 per pound, #5 PP at $.55 per pound, #6 PS at $5.34 per pound, and #7 OTHER plastics at $.31 per pound. The pricing listed above is subject to change as the market demands change and was current at the time of the writing of this article.
Recyclable plastic can be identified by a recycling symbol printed on the bottom of the item. Usually, a triangle consisting of three arrows pointed at each other. Depending on the product, there might be a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 stamped in the center of the symbol and possibly the label of the plastic-type printed underneath the triangle such as HDPE or PVC. This labeling is very important.
The number in the middle of the triangle is a “resin identification code,” used to help recycling plants sort materials. Recyclable plastics are labeled with numbers 1-7 to tell workers what kind of plastic it is and how it should be processed.
Vard Recycling is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, Saturday from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, and Sunday from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. The facility is closed daily for lunch between 12:30 – 1:00 pm. They are located at 4371 Phelan Road, directly behind Anytime Fitness.
