Bismarck residents can now recycle those plastic pop bottles, milk jugs, liquid-detergent bottles and similar containers.

The Public Works department is distributing five containers to existing recycling sites throughout the city for plastics. Instructions on the containers will indicate type-one or type-two plastics only.

"We're looking at the plastic bottleneck containers. These should be rinsed before depositing and the caps taken off," recycling specialist Galen Bren said. "Recyclable containers will have a symbol on them indicating they can be recycled."

The plastic will be stored for a while before it is baled, and that's why it should be rinsed, Bren said. Caps are usually made of a different type of plastic than the containers, making them unsuitable for recycling. It's also more difficult to compress the containers if the caps are still on.

Recycling containers will be located at Tatley Park, Hillside Park, Jaycee Park, Arrowhead Plaza and the corner of Billings Drive and Reno Avenue. A ceremony to mark the start of plastic recycling is being held today at Jaycee Park, beginning at 2 p.m.

Bren said that the Dakota Resource Council got the ball rolling on recycling with its petitioning of the Bismarck City Commission for the program. Waste Management is also instrumental in the program, with the company's willingness to take the plastic.