Recycling

Recycling paper at Panorama
Recycling paper in the “big bin”

RECYCLING AT PANORAMA

Note: We are no longer accepting Styrofoam for recycling. Please put Styrofoam in the trash.

There are two general recycling centers at Panorama, in addition to a recycling bin for electronics and metal.

  • The James Silver Recycling Center is located in the parking lot to the west of the Auditorium.
  • The Chinook Recycling Center is located on Chambers Lake Lane just off Sleater Kinney Road.
  • Both of these centers are open every day from dawn to dusk.
  • These two centers take everything that’s listed below under What can we recycle at Panorama?

There are also recycling bin stations on each floor of the Quinault apartment building. These accept only the mixed recyclables that are listed in Mixed Recycling.

The electronics and metal recycling center is located in the Chalet “dumpster room”, and can be accessed through the breezeway adjacent to Chalet parking space #27. It is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. See Electronics Recycling for the list of items that can be recycled.

Please do not leave items to share!! Most of the time it is a volunteer who must dispose of these items.

Our recycling rules are set by the companies that take our recycling. These rules may be different from other communities. You can find specifics on the pages linked from this page, or view a printable pdf list of the recycling rules  with pictures of items that are not accepted.

COVID-19 Precautions

Please follow current Panorama guidelines for masking and social distancing.

The Resident Recycling Volunteer Team

The Panorama Resident Recycling Team monitors the recycling bins for contamination and works to keep the recycling centers neat. We also provide education about recycling to help residents recycle responsibly. If you have questions about recycling you can ask any volunteer, or email PanoramaRecycling@outlook.com, or call Joe Palmiter or Cleve Pinnix. Also email or call us if you would like to join our team while we cheerfully work to protect our environment!

What can we recycle at Panorama?

Note that only a limited number of items are accepted for recycling at our centers. Why? Well, recycling is a business. It works only if costs can be kept low and if there is a market for the recyclables. After the recyclables are picked up from our centers, they are taken to a sorting facility where they are mainly sorted by automated machinery. The automated sorting machinery sorts by shape and color. Only specific items can be identified so anything else goes to landfill. We help keep cost low by not putting items in the bin that the sorting company then has to haul away.

NO hazardous materials (like paint, chemicals, etc.) are accepted.

There are several types of bins in the centers. 

Large Green Dumpsters – These are for “mixed” recycling of plastic bottles & dairy tubs, newspapers, magazines, sheet paper, cardboard, “tin” can and aluminum cans. See Mixed Recycling for more details on what is and is not accepted.

Glass,  Batteries, and Light Bulbs are collected in individual bins. See Glass, Styrofoam, Batteries and Light Bulbs for details on what is accepted.

Compost – Only food waste should be placed in the the compost bin. Note this does NOT include food containers.  See Food Waste Composting for more details.

PLEASE DO NOT put plastic bags, plastic film or shredded paper in any of the recycling bins.

Where to take other unwanted items.

For a comprehensive list of places in Thurston County to take other usable unwanted items, see Where do I Take My on the Thurston County Solid Waste site.

Plastic bags and other types of clean plastic films can be placed in the collection bins inside the front doors of either Fred Meyer or Target.

Clean Styrofoam peanuts can be taken to Lacey Pack & Ship near Fred Meyer.

Links to recycling articles on the Green Team website

THE WHY OF RECYCLING – PART 1: Whadya Mean I Can’t Recycle This?

FIELD TRIP TO PIONEER RECYCLING SERVICES

DISPOSABLE CUPS

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