From grocery stores to banks, transparent plastic barriers have become commonplace in the past year. Large acrylic panels or plexiglass are installed in front of the cashier counter and reception counter to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus. But when the threat of the pandemic passes, what will happen to all these plastics?

For example, local businesses may choose to keep these barriers permanently or store them for reuse during flu season. However, if they want to get rid of them, recycling may not be an option. Many local recycling facilities do not accept this material.

KUT contacted 20 recycling facilities in the area, and they all stated that they would not accept plexiglass.

Balcones Resources is one of the companies that Austin has contracted with two companies to handle single-stream recycling. The company receives containers made of cardboard, paper and glass, aluminum, tin, and plastic. But Victoria Acevedo, the education coordinator of Balcones Resources, said that its factory was not designed to process plexiglass and therefore did not accept it.

Companies can choose to continue to use protective covers or store them for future use. But many may end up in landfills. Photo by Gabriel C. Pérez/KUT

"Plexiglas is a kind of plastic that is difficult to recycle and find an end market," Acevedo said. "We have markets for cardboard, paper, and plastic... But Plexiglas is one of those small difficulties that (we) unfortunately cannot accept, and we will not pack and ship to any of our processors."

But plexiglass can be reused. This is in line with the goals of Austin Creative Reuse, a non-profit organization that resells donated materials—from traditional art and craft supplies to power tools. The non-profit organization hopes that consumers will give priority to reusing materials for projects. It accepts donations from individuals and businesses and sells them at a price lower than the market price.

According to Jen Mack, the manager of the non-profit organization, Austin Creative Reuse sells plexiglass at about $1 per square foot or less.

"Plexiglas is a very good material for artists, especially in squares with shields," Mike said. "There is a lot of free space on it. So, yes, why throw it away?"

Mack said that plexiglass can be used to make jewelry, decorate coasters and windows in sheds or children's dollhouses.

But she said Austin Creative Reuse is a small non-profit organization with limited resources, including storage. The team hopes to remove as much plexiglass from the landfill as possible, but it cannot remove all of it.

"If all Costcos and all HEBs in Austin donate to us, I don't know if we can handle all of them at the same time," she said.

Austin Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a discount home improvement store and donation center that also accepts donated plexiglass for resale. According to its website, the organization hopes to provide low-cost building materials and exclude reusable items from landfills.

Pat Mallett, who works at Hometown Recycling, a commercial recycling service provider, said the organization has acquired some plexiglass panels. The organization could not recycle it, but gardeners picked them up to make greenhouse windows.

"People are very creative," Mallett said. "As long as they can access it, they will find ways to reuse it."

Photo caption: A plexiglass protective cover is installed in front of HEB's cash register to protect workers and customers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This story was produced as part of the Austin Monitor and KUT reporting partnership.

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Balcones Resources: A company involved in local recycling contracts. They are chartered members of the Texas Media Foundation Capital.

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